Nintendo could have turned it around more quickly simply by making B&W2 an actual 3DS game and forced people to update. It allowed a huge part of their audience to delay updating.
The market for dedicated handhelds is shrinking in every market but Japan.
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NocrenLt Futz, Back in ActionNorth CarolinaRegistered Userregular
They would have caught flak for that though.
Also, they need a better announcer for that game's commerical. It sounds like he's saying "pokemon black, version 2 and white, version 2". Like its an upgrade instead of a sequel.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board is attempting to streamline the release of downloadable games, announcing a new rating service specifically targeted at XBLA, PSN, eShop, WiiWare, and Windows 8 downloads. The no-cost (!) service relies on a brief online questionnaire through which developers self-identify the adult content.
Most relevant to the digital market, the new questionnaire also rates games in terms of their information sharing and user-generated content, with the ESRB introducing the new content descriptor images above. "Shares info" means that the game sends some user information to a third party; "Shares Location" means that your physical location is visible to others (or can be), and "Users Interact" means that the player may communicate with other people in the game, or interact with user-created content.
Sony may be ahead of the curve on this initiative. These self-reported ratings closely resemble the system that Sony is already using for PlayStation Mobile games, as detailed in a Fantastic Arcade presentation. Sony has already worked out similar programs with Japan's CERO and Europe's PEGI in addition to the ESRB.
Maybe the mobile groups will adopt it and allow greater freedom in content finally.
Underage child workers likely were involved in the production of the Wii U, Nintendo has confessed.
The findings come as a result of Nintendo’s own investigation into Foxconn practices that it instigated after claims of child labour emerged last week.
“Nintendo was concerned to learn that underage individuals had been working at a Foxconn facility in China where components for some Nintendo products are produced,” Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta told Kotaku.
“Nintendo investigated the incident and determined that this was a violation of the Nintendo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Procurement Guidelines that all Nintendo production partners are required to follow, based on relevant laws, international standards and guidelines."
"As one of many companies that work with Foxconn to enhance CSR along the whole supply chain, we take this issue very seriously. As part of our ongoing procurement process, Nintendo staff will continue to carry out on-site inspections of our production partners in order to understand the actual on-site conditions and to promote socially responsible procurement."
Nintendo also pressed home that Foxconn has accepted full responsibility for the incident.
"Foxconn has taken full responsibility for this incident and has moved quickly to ensure that all affected individuals no longer work at Foxconn,” Scibetta added.
“In fact, Foxconn's own policies prohibit the employment of underage individuals and the company has pledged to Nintendo via direct communications to improve its process of enforcing this policy to avoid any similar issues in the future."
What the statement doesn’t address, however, is the seeming complacency with which Nintendo and countless other partners (including Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft amongst many, many others) regard the increasingly scandalous conditions under which all Foxconn employees must work – underage or otherwise.
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
Also, they need a better announcer for that game's commerical. It sounds like he's saying "pokemon black, version 2 and white, version 2". Like its an upgrade instead of a sequel.
How would they catch flak for that? The 3DS came out 1.5 years before Pokemon B&W2. Mario and Zelda have both made the switch without supporting the DS and no one pitched a fit to my knowledge.
I wonder if making the original Black and White (which launched like, a week after the 3DS, right?) 3DS LAUNCH titles would have pushed the system. I bet it would have done more good than bad.
Underage child workers likely were involved in the production of the Wii U, Nintendo has confessed.
The findings come as a result of Nintendo’s own investigation into Foxconn practices that it instigated after claims of child labour emerged last week.
“Nintendo was concerned to learn that underage individuals had been working at a Foxconn facility in China where components for some Nintendo products are produced,” Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta told Kotaku.
“Nintendo investigated the incident and determined that this was a violation of the Nintendo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Procurement Guidelines that all Nintendo production partners are required to follow, based on relevant laws, international standards and guidelines."
"As one of many companies that work with Foxconn to enhance CSR along the whole supply chain, we take this issue very seriously. As part of our ongoing procurement process, Nintendo staff will continue to carry out on-site inspections of our production partners in order to understand the actual on-site conditions and to promote socially responsible procurement."
Nintendo also pressed home that Foxconn has accepted full responsibility for the incident.
"Foxconn has taken full responsibility for this incident and has moved quickly to ensure that all affected individuals no longer work at Foxconn,” Scibetta added.
“In fact, Foxconn's own policies prohibit the employment of underage individuals and the company has pledged to Nintendo via direct communications to improve its process of enforcing this policy to avoid any similar issues in the future."
What the statement doesn’t address, however, is the seeming complacency with which Nintendo and countless other partners (including Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft amongst many, many others) regard the increasingly scandalous conditions under which all Foxconn employees must work – underage or otherwise.
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
Nobody doesn't know what goes on there at this point, and I'd cast severe doubt on any claims that they ever were unaware. They go there because it's cheap, and the chinese government is more than happy to help hush up any problems.
If any of the companies really cared they'd stop building shit there, and fire whoever the hell has been handling, and approving, the contract up to this point. Because, again, I don't believe for a second said person didn't know what was going on.
But hey, they 'pledged' not to do it again! I for one totally believe them and their stellar track record. Or maybe Nintendo doesn't give a shit and 'we don't give a shit' is a bad press release. Either or.
Underage child workers likely were involved in the production of the Wii U, Nintendo has confessed.
The findings come as a result of Nintendo’s own investigation into Foxconn practices that it instigated after claims of child labour emerged last week.
“Nintendo was concerned to learn that underage individuals had been working at a Foxconn facility in China where components for some Nintendo products are produced,” Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta told Kotaku.
“Nintendo investigated the incident and determined that this was a violation of the Nintendo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Procurement Guidelines that all Nintendo production partners are required to follow, based on relevant laws, international standards and guidelines."
"As one of many companies that work with Foxconn to enhance CSR along the whole supply chain, we take this issue very seriously. As part of our ongoing procurement process, Nintendo staff will continue to carry out on-site inspections of our production partners in order to understand the actual on-site conditions and to promote socially responsible procurement."
Nintendo also pressed home that Foxconn has accepted full responsibility for the incident.
"Foxconn has taken full responsibility for this incident and has moved quickly to ensure that all affected individuals no longer work at Foxconn,” Scibetta added.
“In fact, Foxconn's own policies prohibit the employment of underage individuals and the company has pledged to Nintendo via direct communications to improve its process of enforcing this policy to avoid any similar issues in the future."
What the statement doesn’t address, however, is the seeming complacency with which Nintendo and countless other partners (including Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft amongst many, many others) regard the increasingly scandalous conditions under which all Foxconn employees must work – underage or otherwise.
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
Nobody doesn't know what goes on there at this point, and I'd cast severe doubt on any claims that they ever were unaware. They go there because it's cheap, and the chinese government is more than happy to help hush up any problems.
If any of the companies really cared they'd stop building shit there, and fire whoever the hell has been handling, and approving, the contract up to this point. Because, again, I don't believe for a second said person didn't know what was going on.
But hey, they 'pledged' not to do it again! I for one totally believe them and their stellar track record. Or maybe Nintendo doesn't give a shit and 'we don't give a shit' is a bad press release. Either or.
Telegram from Taiwan*:
You're welcome, Nintendo.
*Foxconn is a Taiwanese publicly-traded corporation.
The 3DS is failing to perform as expected in territories outside of Japan, Nintendo has conceded.
The handheld’s struggles played a big part in Nintendo’s decision to downsize its profit forecasts by 70 per cent.
Net sales for the six months ending September were down 6.8 per cent at ¥200,994m. That follows a 40 per cent decline in the same period in 2011. An operating loss of ¥27,996m was reported, though that is an improvement on the ¥70,272m loss reported the year before.
5.06m 3DS consoles were sold in the period
Sales of DS titles Pokemon Black/White 2 hit an impressive 4.26m units – a third of all DS software sales – although sales of the DS hardware itself failed to reach a million units for the first time.
Wii hardware sales for the period reached 1.32m.
Lifetime 3DS hardware sales stand at 22m units. Wii sales are slowly creeping toward 100m unit milestone, currently standing at 97.2m.
Hopes now turn to the Wii U, which launches in key territories next month.
Yow. That's.... discouraging. The losses really shouldn't have lingered this long.
So what's happening in the west? Lack of a compelling reason to upgrade? Lack of games? (Western developers largely ignore the thing.) Stiffer competition from... those things?
And to be fair many people in this thread, myself included, overestimated the impact of glasses-free 3D. It wasn't that stupid a conclusion to come to, considering one of the main things people bitch about with 3D is the glasses.
Underage child workers likely were involved in the production of the Wii U, Nintendo has confessed.
The findings come as a result of Nintendo’s own investigation into Foxconn practices that it instigated after claims of child labour emerged last week.
“Nintendo was concerned to learn that underage individuals had been working at a Foxconn facility in China where components for some Nintendo products are produced,” Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta told Kotaku.
“Nintendo investigated the incident and determined that this was a violation of the Nintendo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Procurement Guidelines that all Nintendo production partners are required to follow, based on relevant laws, international standards and guidelines."
"As one of many companies that work with Foxconn to enhance CSR along the whole supply chain, we take this issue very seriously. As part of our ongoing procurement process, Nintendo staff will continue to carry out on-site inspections of our production partners in order to understand the actual on-site conditions and to promote socially responsible procurement."
Nintendo also pressed home that Foxconn has accepted full responsibility for the incident.
"Foxconn has taken full responsibility for this incident and has moved quickly to ensure that all affected individuals no longer work at Foxconn,” Scibetta added.
“In fact, Foxconn's own policies prohibit the employment of underage individuals and the company has pledged to Nintendo via direct communications to improve its process of enforcing this policy to avoid any similar issues in the future."
What the statement doesn’t address, however, is the seeming complacency with which Nintendo and countless other partners (including Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft amongst many, many others) regard the increasingly scandalous conditions under which all Foxconn employees must work – underage or otherwise.
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
Nobody doesn't know what goes on there at this point, and I'd cast severe doubt on any claims that they ever were unaware. They go there because it's cheap, and the chinese government is more than happy to help hush up any problems.
If any of the companies really cared they'd stop building shit there, and fire whoever the hell has been handling, and approving, the contract up to this point. Because, again, I don't believe for a second said person didn't know what was going on.
But hey, they 'pledged' not to do it again! I for one totally believe them and their stellar track record. Or maybe Nintendo doesn't give a shit and 'we don't give a shit' is a bad press release. Either or.
While I know Apple has, several dozen times now, continued to use the same manufacturer after suicides, murders and child labor violations... What's Nintendo's track record? Google is failing me here and you seem pretty convinced that Nintendo has been pawning their stuff off on infants for decades now by the tone of this post.
Underage child workers likely were involved in the production of the Wii U, Nintendo has confessed.
The findings come as a result of Nintendo’s own investigation into Foxconn practices that it instigated after claims of child labour emerged last week.
“Nintendo was concerned to learn that underage individuals had been working at a Foxconn facility in China where components for some Nintendo products are produced,” Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta told Kotaku.
“Nintendo investigated the incident and determined that this was a violation of the Nintendo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Procurement Guidelines that all Nintendo production partners are required to follow, based on relevant laws, international standards and guidelines."
"As one of many companies that work with Foxconn to enhance CSR along the whole supply chain, we take this issue very seriously. As part of our ongoing procurement process, Nintendo staff will continue to carry out on-site inspections of our production partners in order to understand the actual on-site conditions and to promote socially responsible procurement."
Nintendo also pressed home that Foxconn has accepted full responsibility for the incident.
"Foxconn has taken full responsibility for this incident and has moved quickly to ensure that all affected individuals no longer work at Foxconn,” Scibetta added.
“In fact, Foxconn's own policies prohibit the employment of underage individuals and the company has pledged to Nintendo via direct communications to improve its process of enforcing this policy to avoid any similar issues in the future."
What the statement doesn’t address, however, is the seeming complacency with which Nintendo and countless other partners (including Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft amongst many, many others) regard the increasingly scandalous conditions under which all Foxconn employees must work – underage or otherwise.
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
Nobody doesn't know what goes on there at this point, and I'd cast severe doubt on any claims that they ever were unaware. They go there because it's cheap, and the chinese government is more than happy to help hush up any problems.
If any of the companies really cared they'd stop building shit there, and fire whoever the hell has been handling, and approving, the contract up to this point. Because, again, I don't believe for a second said person didn't know what was going on.
But hey, they 'pledged' not to do it again! I for one totally believe them and their stellar track record. Or maybe Nintendo doesn't give a shit and 'we don't give a shit' is a bad press release. Either or.
While I know Apple has, several dozen times now, continued to use the same manufacturer after suicides, murders and child labor violations... What's Nintendo's track record? Google is failing me here and you seem pretty convinced that Nintendo has been pawning their stuff off on infants for decades now by the tone of this post.
They both use Foxconn. Hell virtually every electronics company uses them.
The 3DS is failing to perform as expected in territories outside of Japan, Nintendo has conceded.
The handheld’s struggles played a big part in Nintendo’s decision to downsize its profit forecasts by 70 per cent.
Net sales for the six months ending September were down 6.8 per cent at ¥200,994m. That follows a 40 per cent decline in the same period in 2011. An operating loss of ¥27,996m was reported, though that is an improvement on the ¥70,272m loss reported the year before.
5.06m 3DS consoles were sold in the period
Sales of DS titles Pokemon Black/White 2 hit an impressive 4.26m units – a third of all DS software sales – although sales of the DS hardware itself failed to reach a million units for the first time.
Wii hardware sales for the period reached 1.32m.
Lifetime 3DS hardware sales stand at 22m units. Wii sales are slowly creeping toward 100m unit milestone, currently standing at 97.2m.
Hopes now turn to the Wii U, which launches in key territories next month.
Yow. That's.... discouraging. The losses really shouldn't have lingered this long.
So what's happening in the west? Lack of a compelling reason to upgrade? Lack of games? (Western developers largely ignore the thing.) Stiffer competition from... those things?
And to be fair many people in this thread, myself included, overestimated the impact of glasses-free 3D. It wasn't that stupid a conclusion to come to, considering one of the main things people bitch about with 3D is the glasses.
Nintendo has released its earnings for the first half of 2012, and there's good and bad news. While the company lost 29.2 billion yen ($366 million) from April to September, the flow of money out of the company has been stemmed somewhat; last year's equivalent figure was a loss of 57.3 billion yen ($718 million). Overall Nintendo's total assets actually increased 2.85% over the course of the past six months.
"3DS sales are up 64.8 percent"
Sales continued to fall almost across the board, however. The DS and Wii, both coming towards the end of their life cycles, sold 970,000 and 1.32 million units respectively — drops of 62.4 percent and 60.6 percent. The 3DS, on the other hand, was the one bright spot; sales were up 64.8 percent for a total of 5.06 million units, of which 2.1 million were the newer (and more expensive) XL model.
Nintendo expects to get a further boost from the launch of the Wii U next month, forecasting sales of 5.5 million units in the second half of its fiscal year. With the 3DS performing well, the company will be hoping for a smooth transition into the next generation.
Dritz on
There I was, 3DS: 2621-2671-9899 (Ekera), Wii U: LostCrescendo
The 3DS is failing to perform as expected in territories outside of Japan, Nintendo has conceded.
The handheld’s struggles played a big part in Nintendo’s decision to downsize its profit forecasts by 70 per cent.
Net sales for the six months ending September were down 6.8 per cent at ¥200,994m. That follows a 40 per cent decline in the same period in 2011. An operating loss of ¥27,996m was reported, though that is an improvement on the ¥70,272m loss reported the year before.
5.06m 3DS consoles were sold in the period
Sales of DS titles Pokemon Black/White 2 hit an impressive 4.26m units – a third of all DS software sales – although sales of the DS hardware itself failed to reach a million units for the first time.
Wii hardware sales for the period reached 1.32m.
Lifetime 3DS hardware sales stand at 22m units. Wii sales are slowly creeping toward 100m unit milestone, currently standing at 97.2m.
Hopes now turn to the Wii U, which launches in key territories next month.
Yow. That's.... discouraging. The losses really shouldn't have lingered this long.
So what's happening in the west? Lack of a compelling reason to upgrade? Lack of games? (Western developers largely ignore the thing.) Stiffer competition from... those things?
And to be fair many people in this thread, myself included, overestimated the impact of glasses-free 3D. It wasn't that stupid a conclusion to come to, considering one of the main things people bitch about with 3D is the glasses.
I think it's partially lack of reason to update - the DS library is so good and has continued to grow even with the 3DS out there that many just don't feel the need to jump on the 3DS. On top of that, many more kids my son's age (8) are getting Nook Tablets, Kindle Fires or Ipod Touches and the parents don't bother updating the DS until they have to. I also think Nintendo should have done a cleaner kill to the DS line and made sure that when I go to a store 1.5 years later it isn't still full of DSi/DSiXLs muddying the water.
Kotaku's got some interesting perspective for once.
From the beginning of April 2012 through the end of September, the 3DS sold 2,090,000 units in Japan, 1,390,000 in America. The DS? It sold just 10,000 units in Japan during that same period. Japan was done with the DS. But in America? 790,000 DSes sold in those six months.
Underage child workers likely were involved in the production of the Wii U, Nintendo has confessed.
The findings come as a result of Nintendo’s own investigation into Foxconn practices that it instigated after claims of child labour emerged last week.
“Nintendo was concerned to learn that underage individuals had been working at a Foxconn facility in China where components for some Nintendo products are produced,” Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta told Kotaku.
“Nintendo investigated the incident and determined that this was a violation of the Nintendo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Procurement Guidelines that all Nintendo production partners are required to follow, based on relevant laws, international standards and guidelines."
"As one of many companies that work with Foxconn to enhance CSR along the whole supply chain, we take this issue very seriously. As part of our ongoing procurement process, Nintendo staff will continue to carry out on-site inspections of our production partners in order to understand the actual on-site conditions and to promote socially responsible procurement."
Nintendo also pressed home that Foxconn has accepted full responsibility for the incident.
"Foxconn has taken full responsibility for this incident and has moved quickly to ensure that all affected individuals no longer work at Foxconn,” Scibetta added.
“In fact, Foxconn's own policies prohibit the employment of underage individuals and the company has pledged to Nintendo via direct communications to improve its process of enforcing this policy to avoid any similar issues in the future."
What the statement doesn’t address, however, is the seeming complacency with which Nintendo and countless other partners (including Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft amongst many, many others) regard the increasingly scandalous conditions under which all Foxconn employees must work – underage or otherwise.
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
Nobody doesn't know what goes on there at this point, and I'd cast severe doubt on any claims that they ever were unaware. They go there because it's cheap, and the chinese government is more than happy to help hush up any problems.
If any of the companies really cared they'd stop building shit there, and fire whoever the hell has been handling, and approving, the contract up to this point. Because, again, I don't believe for a second said person didn't know what was going on.
But hey, they 'pledged' not to do it again! I for one totally believe them and their stellar track record. Or maybe Nintendo doesn't give a shit and 'we don't give a shit' is a bad press release. Either or.
While I know Apple has, several dozen times now, continued to use the same manufacturer after suicides, murders and child labor violations... What's Nintendo's track record? Google is failing me here and you seem pretty convinced that Nintendo has been pawning their stuff off on infants for decades now by the tone of this post.
Not quite sure what point you're trying to make. That nintendo doesn't know what foxconn's track record is, or realistically believes their assurance that it will suddenly stop despite everything previous? I really doubt it, for them and all the rest of the companies who are clients. We're talking about the level of companies (apple, nintendo, sony, ms) who have entire divisions dedicated to researching the market and global trends, so if they're going to claim ignorance, I'm going to claim bullshit.
Also, per the bolded, please don't cram hyperbole in my mouth.
The 3DS is failing to perform as expected in territories outside of Japan, Nintendo has conceded.
The handheld’s struggles played a big part in Nintendo’s decision to downsize its profit forecasts by 70 per cent.
Net sales for the six months ending September were down 6.8 per cent at ¥200,994m. That follows a 40 per cent decline in the same period in 2011. An operating loss of ¥27,996m was reported, though that is an improvement on the ¥70,272m loss reported the year before.
5.06m 3DS consoles were sold in the period
Sales of DS titles Pokemon Black/White 2 hit an impressive 4.26m units – a third of all DS software sales – although sales of the DS hardware itself failed to reach a million units for the first time.
Wii hardware sales for the period reached 1.32m.
Lifetime 3DS hardware sales stand at 22m units. Wii sales are slowly creeping toward 100m unit milestone, currently standing at 97.2m.
Hopes now turn to the Wii U, which launches in key territories next month.
Yow. That's.... discouraging. The losses really shouldn't have lingered this long.
So what's happening in the west? Lack of a compelling reason to upgrade? Lack of games? (Western developers largely ignore the thing.) Stiffer competition from... those things?
And to be fair many people in this thread, myself included, overestimated the impact of glasses-free 3D. It wasn't that stupid a conclusion to come to, considering one of the main things people bitch about with 3D is the glasses.
I think it's partially lack of reason to update - the DS library is so good and has continued to grow even with the 3DS out there that many just don't feel the need to jump on the 3DS. On top of that, many more kids my son's age (8) are getting Nook Tablets, Kindle Fires or Ipod Touches and the parents don't bother updating the DS until they have to. I also think Nintendo should have done a cleaner kill to the DS line and made sure that when I go to a store 1.5 years later it isn't still full of DSi/DSiXLs muddying the water.
This doesn't surprise me in the least. I still have to actively look for people with 3DS's. Regular DS or iPhone? Naturally, not an issue. Android phone? Even easier. Finding someone with a 3DS is becoming like finding someone else with a WP7 or an iPod that's not a touch: exceedingly unlikely.
It's good to hear that the NDS is still strong, but given the titles we're seeing on the 3DS aren't setting the world on fire, and the hardware by itself isn't really anything to brag about (I suppose that was also true about the NDS way back then), I think Nintendo should be grateful that one of their handhelds is doing well in what does seem to be a shrinking handheld market at times.
Then again, assuming they had cut off the DS, who's to say the 3DS would be fundamentally that better without that competition (and with the same current lineup and glasses free 3D no one cares about?).
Even if that weren't the case, this seems, more and more, to be a case of: NOBODY (in America) CARES. At least, not by successful Nintendo standards (which are nothing to scoff at).
NEW WII BUNDLES KEEP FAMILIES GROOVING AND IMAGINATIONS SOARING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
-Nintendo to Launch New Wii Console Bundles on Nov. 4, Featuring Ubisoft's Just Dance 4 and Activision's Skylanders Giants
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 24, 2012 – Nintendo has great news for gift seekers looking to keep their loved ones entertained and energized this holiday season. Starting Nov. 4, consumers in the United States will be able to choose from two new Wii bundles, each containing a Wii console and one of two new games from Nintendo's third-party partners. One bundle includes Ubisoft's Just Dance 4 and a white Wii console with matching Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, offered while supplies last at a suggested retail price of $129.99. The other bundle includes Activision's Skylanders Giants, a blue Wii console with matching Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, one Portal of Power, two Skylanders characters and one exclusive Giant Skylander, available while supplies last at a suggested retail price of $149.99.
"These bundles give consumers a way to enjoy some of the hottest new games for this generation's most popular console at an attractive price," said Steve Singer, Nintendo of America's vice president of Licensing. "Together with our third-party publishing partners, we're delivering maximum value for families who want to get the most for their home entertainment dollar."
The Just Dance franchise has sold more than 13 million on the Wii console alone, making it the top third-party Wii franchise of all time and one of the top-selling franchises of this entire console generation. The new Just Dance 4 adds new features, game modes, songs and dance moves. Dancers can rock out to more than 40 tracks across a wide range of musical genres, including pop, hip-hop, rock, country, funk and more. Each song can be played by up to four players, and the new Battle mode lets players challenge their friends in six rounds of dance-offs.
The Skylanders combination of gaming and physical toys took the world by storm in 2011. The new Skylanders Giants game introduces Giant Skylanders characters with powers to match. When the action figures are placed on the Portal of Power, they come to life in the game. Players must unleash their strength in the battle to save Skylands.
Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii.
First Wii third party bundles in NA and really fucking smart ones at that, especially considering the Skylanders one is a 70+ dollar value and has an exclusive toy in it.
Underage child workers likely were involved in the production of the Wii U, Nintendo has confessed.
The findings come as a result of Nintendo’s own investigation into Foxconn practices that it instigated after claims of child labour emerged last week.
“Nintendo was concerned to learn that underage individuals had been working at a Foxconn facility in China where components for some Nintendo products are produced,” Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta told Kotaku.
“Nintendo investigated the incident and determined that this was a violation of the Nintendo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Procurement Guidelines that all Nintendo production partners are required to follow, based on relevant laws, international standards and guidelines."
"As one of many companies that work with Foxconn to enhance CSR along the whole supply chain, we take this issue very seriously. As part of our ongoing procurement process, Nintendo staff will continue to carry out on-site inspections of our production partners in order to understand the actual on-site conditions and to promote socially responsible procurement."
Nintendo also pressed home that Foxconn has accepted full responsibility for the incident.
"Foxconn has taken full responsibility for this incident and has moved quickly to ensure that all affected individuals no longer work at Foxconn,” Scibetta added.
“In fact, Foxconn's own policies prohibit the employment of underage individuals and the company has pledged to Nintendo via direct communications to improve its process of enforcing this policy to avoid any similar issues in the future."
What the statement doesn’t address, however, is the seeming complacency with which Nintendo and countless other partners (including Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft amongst many, many others) regard the increasingly scandalous conditions under which all Foxconn employees must work – underage or otherwise.
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
Nobody doesn't know what goes on there at this point, and I'd cast severe doubt on any claims that they ever were unaware. They go there because it's cheap, and the chinese government is more than happy to help hush up any problems.
If any of the companies really cared they'd stop building shit there, and fire whoever the hell has been handling, and approving, the contract up to this point. Because, again, I don't believe for a second said person didn't know what was going on.
But hey, they 'pledged' not to do it again! I for one totally believe them and their stellar track record. Or maybe Nintendo doesn't give a shit and 'we don't give a shit' is a bad press release. Either or.
While I know Apple has, several dozen times now, continued to use the same manufacturer after suicides, murders and child labor violations... What's Nintendo's track record? Google is failing me here and you seem pretty convinced that Nintendo has been pawning their stuff off on infants for decades now by the tone of this post.
Not quite sure what point you're trying to make. That nintendo doesn't know what foxconn's track record is, or realistically believes their assurance that it will suddenly stop despite everything previous? I really doubt it, for them and all the rest of the companies who are clients. We're talking about the level of companies (apple, nintendo, sony, ms) who have entire divisions dedicated to researching the market and global trends, so if they're going to claim ignorance, I'm going to claim bullshit.
Also, per the bolded, please don't cram hyperbole in my mouth.
You mean those violations that were mostly found to be fictional, and wherein several international labor investigation groups have gone in and only found mild violations in several of their trips? I mean, hyperbole or not, you're producing enough hyperbole all on your own. Perhaps you should actually study up a bit? Hell, the /wikipedia/ article is more factual then half the stuff people spout about this 'Hell on earth'.
Foxconn is a terrible company? Probably. Is it any worse then most other companies? I'm going to doubt it. It's just using a different pool of people who are already living in pretty miserable conditions. (For example, fewer Foxconn employees commit suicide then regular chinese citizens. Surprise!)
Some perspective on how bad Zynga is sucking came from Facebook's earning conference call:
The Facebook CEO just said on an earnings call that the payments Facebook received from Zynga — a commission on the revenues Zynga pulls in from gamers on Facebook — have fallen significantly in the last quarter, even as overall revenues from other companies using the Facebook platform have grown vigorously.
As the WSJ’s Matthew Lynley picked up in his live blog of the earnings call:
“Gaming on Facebook isn’t doing as well as I’d like,” Zuckerberg said. Payments revenue from Zynga decreased 20%, but the rest of the ecosystem has been growing. Monthly payments from ecosystem increased 40% over the last year.
I see where you're coming from, you think foxconn is an okay company. Well 'terrible company but not worse than any other company', or something? Okay.
I don't think we're going to come to an agreement here.
Some perspective on how bad Zynga is sucking came from Facebook's earning conference call:
The Facebook CEO just said on an earnings call that the payments Facebook received from Zynga — a commission on the revenues Zynga pulls in from gamers on Facebook — have fallen significantly in the last quarter, even as overall revenues from other companies using the Facebook platform have grown vigorously.
As the WSJ’s Matthew Lynley picked up in his live blog of the earnings call:
“Gaming on Facebook isn’t doing as well as I’d like,” Zuckerberg said. Payments revenue from Zynga decreased 20%, but the rest of the ecosystem has been growing. Monthly payments from ecosystem increased 40% over the last year.
In other words, Zynga's doing much, much worse than Facebook gaming in general.
It doesn't exactly say that. What it does say is that Zynga's near total domination of FB gaming is done. That and FB gaming in general has taken a slight bump recently.
Some perspective on how bad Zynga is sucking came from Facebook's earning conference call:
The Facebook CEO just said on an earnings call that the payments Facebook received from Zynga — a commission on the revenues Zynga pulls in from gamers on Facebook — have fallen significantly in the last quarter, even as overall revenues from other companies using the Facebook platform have grown vigorously.
As the WSJ’s Matthew Lynley picked up in his live blog of the earnings call:
“Gaming on Facebook isn’t doing as well as I’d like,” Zuckerberg said. Payments revenue from Zynga decreased 20%, but the rest of the ecosystem has been growing. Monthly payments from ecosystem increased 40% over the last year.
In other words, Zynga's doing much, much worse than Facebook gaming in general.
It doesn't exactly say that. What it does say is that Zynga's near total domination of FB gaming is done. That and FB gaming in general has taken a slight bump recently.
Yeah, I don't quite get that. It expanded 40% overall and it didn't meet his expectation? What was he expecting? It to break through the wall and give an "OH YEAH!"?
Someone explain to me the business math reason why +40% isn't good enough, because I imagine there is one.
Some perspective on how bad Zynga is sucking came from Facebook's earning conference call:
The Facebook CEO just said on an earnings call that the payments Facebook received from Zynga — a commission on the revenues Zynga pulls in from gamers on Facebook — have fallen significantly in the last quarter, even as overall revenues from other companies using the Facebook platform have grown vigorously.
As the WSJ’s Matthew Lynley picked up in his live blog of the earnings call:
“Gaming on Facebook isn’t doing as well as I’d like,” Zuckerberg said. Payments revenue from Zynga decreased 20%, but the rest of the ecosystem has been growing. Monthly payments from ecosystem increased 40% over the last year.
In other words, Zynga's doing much, much worse than Facebook gaming in general.
It doesn't exactly say that. What it does say is that Zynga's near total domination of FB gaming is done. That and FB gaming in general has taken a slight bump recently.
Yeah, I don't quite get that. It expanded 40% overall and it didn't meet his expectation? What was he expecting? It to break through the wall and give an "OH YEAH!"?
Someone explain to me the business math reason why +40% isn't good enough, because I imagine there is one.
Because Zuckerberg. Remember, he's the guy who insisted the stock launch at a much, much higher price than the market would support.
Some perspective on how bad Zynga is sucking came from Facebook's earning conference call:
The Facebook CEO just said on an earnings call that the payments Facebook received from Zynga — a commission on the revenues Zynga pulls in from gamers on Facebook — have fallen significantly in the last quarter, even as overall revenues from other companies using the Facebook platform have grown vigorously.
As the WSJ’s Matthew Lynley picked up in his live blog of the earnings call:
“Gaming on Facebook isn’t doing as well as I’d like,” Zuckerberg said. Payments revenue from Zynga decreased 20%, but the rest of the ecosystem has been growing. Monthly payments from ecosystem increased 40% over the last year.
In other words, Zynga's doing much, much worse than Facebook gaming in general.
It doesn't exactly say that. What it does say is that Zynga's near total domination of FB gaming is done. That and FB gaming in general has taken a slight bump recently.
Yeah, I don't quite get that. It expanded 40% overall and it didn't meet his expectation? What was he expecting? It to break through the wall and give an "OH YEAH!"?
Someone explain to me the business math reason why +40% isn't good enough, because I imagine there is one.
because it expanded by more than 40% last year, and if any number goes down that makes investors unhappy.
I just don't think most parents in the US realize that the 3DS is a totally different system and not just a "DS with 3D" like the DSi is "the DS with a camera" and the DSXL is "the DS with a bigger screen".
Like it or not these things are in the hands of kids more than anyone else and it's the parents who are buying them. It's up to Nintendo to market the 3DS and make it stand out over here.
I just don't think most parents in the US realize that the 3DS is a totally different system and not just a "DS with 3D" like the DSi is "the DS with a camera" and the DSXL is "the DS with a bigger screen".
Like it or not these things are in the hands of kids more than anyone else and it's the parents who are buying them. It's up to Nintendo to market the 3DS and make it stand out over here.
True. I think the game library has a lot to do with sales as well. The Japanese 3DS library is drastically better than the US library - a lot of games never make it over here and even when games are brought over, they frequently come out much later than they did in Japan. For example, we're just now getting the 3DS Professor Layton game and that was a launch title in Japan.
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The only negative aspect regarding 3DS sales is that Nintendo and everyone else were expecting it to set the world on fire. It's still selling, by units out there, pretty good, and over time it's going to add up. Expectations of instant-success is the dumbest thing in the industry right now and anyone playing to it is getting burned hard.
Am I the only one thinking Nintendo maybe should start using new names for the devices a bit more? Instead of having things sound like an upgrade ie: DS to 3DS and Wii to Wii U they should come up with some new brands.
The whole Wii U thing especially I'm sure is going to just make people think it has a new controller in part due to the name.
Am I the only one thinking Nintendo maybe should start using new names for the devices a bit more? Instead of having things sound like an upgrade ie: DS to 3DS and Wii to Wii U they should come up with some new brands.
The whole Wii U thing especially I'm sure is going to just make people think it has a new controller in part due to the name.
Agreed. The WiiU & 3DS are literally just adding a single letter (or number) to the existing name. Even something as simple as the Wii Ultra would make it obvious that the new system is much better than the old one while still retaining name brand recognition.
Number+1 is pretty easer to understand. As is a higher catchy number (or a number where one wasn't before).
As much as I understand the "We, You" name, I still think they should have gone with Super Wii for old times sake.
I have to say that there really isn't anything on the radar for me for the 3ds. I think the last game i got was resident evil. I hear harvest moon calling my name but thats really it.
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The market for dedicated handhelds is shrinking in every market but Japan.
Also, they need a better announcer for that game's commerical. It sounds like he's saying "pokemon black, version 2 and white, version 2". Like its an upgrade instead of a sequel.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/nintendo-says-foxconn-violated-its-csr-guidelines/0105141
They didn't know about it before the investigation, but really, when you are using Foxconn, what do you expect?
How would they catch flak for that? The 3DS came out 1.5 years before Pokemon B&W2. Mario and Zelda have both made the switch without supporting the DS and no one pitched a fit to my knowledge.
Nobody doesn't know what goes on there at this point, and I'd cast severe doubt on any claims that they ever were unaware. They go there because it's cheap, and the chinese government is more than happy to help hush up any problems.
If any of the companies really cared they'd stop building shit there, and fire whoever the hell has been handling, and approving, the contract up to this point. Because, again, I don't believe for a second said person didn't know what was going on.
But hey, they 'pledged' not to do it again! I for one totally believe them and their stellar track record. Or maybe Nintendo doesn't give a shit and 'we don't give a shit' is a bad press release. Either or.
Telegram from Taiwan*:
You're welcome, Nintendo.
*Foxconn is a Taiwanese publicly-traded corporation.
Yow. That's.... discouraging. The losses really shouldn't have lingered this long.
So what's happening in the west? Lack of a compelling reason to upgrade? Lack of games? (Western developers largely ignore the thing.) Stiffer competition from... those things?
And to be fair many people in this thread, myself included, overestimated the impact of glasses-free 3D. It wasn't that stupid a conclusion to come to, considering one of the main things people bitch about with 3D is the glasses.
While I know Apple has, several dozen times now, continued to use the same manufacturer after suicides, murders and child labor violations... What's Nintendo's track record? Google is failing me here and you seem pretty convinced that Nintendo has been pawning their stuff off on infants for decades now by the tone of this post.
They both use Foxconn. Hell virtually every electronics company uses them.
Polygon had a slightly more upbeat perspective:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/24/3546942/nintendo-first-half-2012-financial-results
I think it's partially lack of reason to update - the DS library is so good and has continued to grow even with the 3DS out there that many just don't feel the need to jump on the 3DS. On top of that, many more kids my son's age (8) are getting Nook Tablets, Kindle Fires or Ipod Touches and the parents don't bother updating the DS until they have to. I also think Nintendo should have done a cleaner kill to the DS line and made sure that when I go to a store 1.5 years later it isn't still full of DSi/DSiXLs muddying the water.
http://kotaku.com/5954444/the-nintendo-3ds-other-problem-appears-to-be-the-ds
Not quite sure what point you're trying to make. That nintendo doesn't know what foxconn's track record is, or realistically believes their assurance that it will suddenly stop despite everything previous? I really doubt it, for them and all the rest of the companies who are clients. We're talking about the level of companies (apple, nintendo, sony, ms) who have entire divisions dedicated to researching the market and global trends, so if they're going to claim ignorance, I'm going to claim bullshit.
Also, per the bolded, please don't cram hyperbole in my mouth.
This doesn't surprise me in the least. I still have to actively look for people with 3DS's. Regular DS or iPhone? Naturally, not an issue. Android phone? Even easier. Finding someone with a 3DS is becoming like finding someone else with a WP7 or an iPod that's not a touch: exceedingly unlikely.
It's good to hear that the NDS is still strong, but given the titles we're seeing on the 3DS aren't setting the world on fire, and the hardware by itself isn't really anything to brag about (I suppose that was also true about the NDS way back then), I think Nintendo should be grateful that one of their handhelds is doing well in what does seem to be a shrinking handheld market at times.
Then again, assuming they had cut off the DS, who's to say the 3DS would be fundamentally that better without that competition (and with the same current lineup and glasses free 3D no one cares about?).
Even if that weren't the case, this seems, more and more, to be a case of: NOBODY (in America) CARES. At least, not by successful Nintendo standards (which are nothing to scoff at).
Images Here:
http://i.minus.com/iF307w8koV5ty.png
http://i.minus.com/iq1wd3aLfAhcK.png
First Wii third party bundles in NA and really fucking smart ones at that, especially considering the Skylanders one is a 70+ dollar value and has an exclusive toy in it.
You mean those violations that were mostly found to be fictional, and wherein several international labor investigation groups have gone in and only found mild violations in several of their trips? I mean, hyperbole or not, you're producing enough hyperbole all on your own. Perhaps you should actually study up a bit? Hell, the /wikipedia/ article is more factual then half the stuff people spout about this 'Hell on earth'.
Foxconn is a terrible company? Probably. Is it any worse then most other companies? I'm going to doubt it. It's just using a different pool of people who are already living in pretty miserable conditions. (For example, fewer Foxconn employees commit suicide then regular chinese citizens. Surprise!)
http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2012/10/23/facebooks-zuckerberg-adds-to-a-bad-day-for-zynga/
In other words, Zynga's doing much, much worse than Facebook gaming in general.
I don't think we're going to come to an agreement here.
It doesn't exactly say that. What it does say is that Zynga's near total domination of FB gaming is done. That and FB gaming in general has taken a slight bump recently.
Yeah, I don't quite get that. It expanded 40% overall and it didn't meet his expectation? What was he expecting? It to break through the wall and give an "OH YEAH!"?
Someone explain to me the business math reason why +40% isn't good enough, because I imagine there is one.
Because Zuckerberg. Remember, he's the guy who insisted the stock launch at a much, much higher price than the market would support.
because it expanded by more than 40% last year, and if any number goes down that makes investors unhappy.
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Even being the rapid Nintendo fan I am I never expected them to do something this smart. Talk about a bundle that hits your core audience.
Like it or not these things are in the hands of kids more than anyone else and it's the parents who are buying them. It's up to Nintendo to market the 3DS and make it stand out over here.
True. I think the game library has a lot to do with sales as well. The Japanese 3DS library is drastically better than the US library - a lot of games never make it over here and even when games are brought over, they frequently come out much later than they did in Japan. For example, we're just now getting the 3DS Professor Layton game and that was a launch title in Japan.
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Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
The whole Wii U thing especially I'm sure is going to just make people think it has a new controller in part due to the name.
Agreed. The WiiU & 3DS are literally just adding a single letter (or number) to the existing name. Even something as simple as the Wii Ultra would make it obvious that the new system is much better than the old one while still retaining name brand recognition.
Zeboyd Games Development Blog
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
As much as I understand the "We, You" name, I still think they should have gone with Super Wii for old times sake.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
Most people find a linear succession of numerical values easier to understand than random bullshit.