Report: Nintendo Eyes Consoles, Games for Emerging Markets

One-time gaming titan Nintendo may be expanding to emerging markets in an effort to dig itself out of a giant financial hole.

Shortly after announcing a ¥46.4 billion ($457 million) operating loss in the last fiscal year, the company told Reuters that it will introduce new consoles and software in emerging markets.

But don't expect the Wii U or 3DS to launch in areas like China—Nintendo wants to develop hardware geared toward customers with lower incomes and limited gaming experience.

"It would be difficult to enter those markets if we didn't create something new," President Satoru Iwata (pictured) told Reuters. "For the mass market you need to provide something that most of the middle class can afford."

Iwata declined to elaborate on console or game design and specs, and said only that "emerging markets" include those areas where gaming potential "has not yet been cracked," Reuters said.

China, in particular, is a hot commodity; following the recent lifting of a ban on the sale of foreign consoles, competitor Microsoft announced plans to sell its Xbox One in the Asian country this fall.

Iwata told Reuters that the Chinese market "has a lot of potential, but I don't think the lifting of the ban has solved all of the difficulties in entering it."

Nintendo did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.

The gamemaker also made headlines this week when a social media campaign for same-sex relationships in the upcoming 3DS title Tomodachi Life went viral. Led by a gay 23-year-old gamer from Arizona, the #Miiquality movement urges Nintendo to add the option for players to enter into same-sex relationships, and eventually marriage, in the simulation game, set for a June 6 launch.

Source:

www.pcmag.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 10:53 AM in Asian country, competitor Microsoft, emerging markets, Games, gaming experience, Nintendo, Nintendo Eyes, President Satoru Iwata

Google to Launch Android TV with Exciting Features

The latest announcement from Technology major Google has revealed that the company is planning to launch Android TV. The project will offer an entertainment interface and not a computing platform. Google informed that the Android TV will make it easier for users to find what they are looking for whereas Google TV aimed to change the way people tried to watch TV and content.

Android TV will be based on platforms that will depend on simple TV apps and scrolling cards that show off apps, movies, games, TV, etc. The unique features involved in the Android TV include simple D-Pad on the remote controls, which will allow the user to scroll through the content containing the curated suggestions.

The remote control also contain ‘enter’, ‘home’ and ‘back’ keys with up/down/left/right options for navigation purposes. The company reported to have game controllers similar to Amazon's newly unveiled Kindle Fire TV in its future applications.

The newly developed Android TVs will support voice search and voice notifications like the Kindle Fire TV. “It's all about finding and enjoying content with the least amount of friction and will be cinematic, fun, fluid, and fast”, said Google.

The Android TV will lack some of the unnecessary applications like touch screen support, which narrows the focus. Among other achievements of Google includes the development of Chromecast HDMI dongle.

Source:
newstonight.co.za

Posted by Editorial Team on 6:40 AM in Android TV, Chromecast HDMI, developed Android, Entertainment, Games, Google, Launch Android, movies, platform, TV

Games with Gold 'fundamentally different to PS Plus', says Xbox exec

Microsoft says service will become 'truer to what consumers expect'

A key Xbox executive has moved to outline the "fundamental" differences between Microsoft's Games with Gold service and Sony's PlayStation Plus offering.

Speaking during a Q&A session following his SXSW panel over the weekend, Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer addressed criticism that Games with Gold titles tend to be much older than PlayStation Plus games.

"One of our issues with Games with Gold - not 'issues,' but differences between the other system we get compared to, is the fact that with Games with Gold, you get to keep that game, regardless of whether you continue to subscribe," he said, according to Polygon.

"And the business around Games with Gold, for us, is just fundamentally different from some of the other programs that are out there, which does put a different financial picture on a - you're going to go buy a game that's brand new, the cost of putting that in, just to be kind of blunt about it."

However, Spencer did say he has been working with the Games with Gold team in a bid to improve the service.

"I have been sitting down, monthly now, with that team - some of the earlier months were already programmed - and playing a more active role in picking franchises that show up in Games with Gold, and I think you'll see at least something that feels, at least, more true to what I think Games with Gold should look like with the constraints that are there.

"For us, in the long run, as an industry, giving away content like that is just ... I think there's some steps and some evolution of what Games with Gold or any of the other systems will go through to their full potential. You have things out there that are kind of bigger subscription services, where I get access to a lot of content. Games with Gold is kind of this step in the middle of, 'I get games, and how do I feel about those games.'"

Announced at E3 2013, Games with Gold gives XBLG subscribers two free games to keep each month, with a new title made available on the 1st and 16th of each month.

While it was originally announced as a limited time campaign, Microsoft said last October that Games with Gold would be an "ongoing benefit"with no end date planned.

In November, the platform holder also revealed plans to launch Games with Gold on Xbox One in 2014.

News Source: www.computerandvideogames.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 2:46 AM in 'fundamentally, Games, Microsoft, picking, picture, platform, Polygon, PS Plus, XBLG, Xbox