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Gasp! Nintendo Developing App for iOS, Android

- By - Source : Kotaku

Nintendo finally caved in and plans to bring Pokémon to the iOS and Android platforms.

Typically we wouldn't write anything Pokémon-related for obvious reasons, but reports that Nintendo is bringing its coveted pocket monster franchise to Apple's iOS and Google's Android is significant. Why? Because this will be the first time a Nintendo 1st-party title won't be on Nintendo hardware that we know of, especially a Pokémon title.

Kotaku Japan reports that Nintendo and Game Freak are bringing an original Pokémon title to the AppStore and Android Market this summer. Called "Pokémon Say Tap? BW," the app uses music and on-screen Pokémon cards in a timing game. It will be free to download and install although it's possible that Nintendo may charge for additional cards/music similar to Tap Tap Revolution.

The news arrives after the launch of Sony Ericsson's PlayStation-certified Xperia Play smartphone. In addition to featuring a cool slide-out gamepad, the Android smartphone also plays host to Sony's PlayStation Suite, an emulator (so to speak) allowing gamers to play classic PlayStation and PlayStation 2 titles on the device. The suite is also scheduled to arrive on Tegra-based Android phones and tablets later on in 2011.

Although Nintendo claims otherwise, a study conducted in 2010 by Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty revealed that Apple's iPad and iPod Touch were indeed hurting Nintendo's revenue in the portable sector. "It’s really a new product category that is suited for lifestyle entertainment, but it also opens a host of new possibilities for game experiences, which currently has three games in the Top 10," said Adam Sussman, VP of EA Mobile, referring to the swank new iPad at the time. "It enables us to create new game experiences that are really different and very exciting."

But Nintendo is in complete denial even though it began offering a similar bite-sized format for the Wii (WiiWare) and DSi (DSiWare). "A lot of people want to paint the scenario that in order for the App Store for Apple or any other competitor, for them to enjoy any momentum, it has to be at our expense," said Charlie Scibetta, Sr. Director, Corp. Comm. for Nintendo of America. "I don’t necessarily subscribe to that."

Sure thing. Personally I haven't picked up my DS handheld for years thanks to iOS and just recently Android. Yet here we are with Pokémon heading to both mobile platforms this summer. Could it be based on the underwhelming sales of the just-launched Nintendo 3DS despite setting a new hand-held record on opening day? The new app doesn't seem much of a coincidence or a surprise for that matter based on the heat provided by Apple and Google/Sony. Does this mean iOS and Android owners will see a Nintendo Suite? Let's cross our fingers.

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qhoa1385 07/05/2011 10:13 PM
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reggieray 07/05/2011 10:15 PM
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Knowing the past of Nintendo I would bet this will become fairly to extremely popular.

reggieray 07/05/2011 10:15 PM
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After all the Wii has sold more units and software than the PS3+360

reprotected 07/05/2011 10:16 PM
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Nintendo could make millions selling Pokemon Yellow (with updated graphics) for $15, seeing that people buy FFIII for iOS for the same price.

reggieray 07/05/2011 10:16 PM
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reggieray 07/05/2011 10:17 PM
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erichoyt 07/05/2011 10:23 PM
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with a Nintendo game comes the Nintendo price tag...which is not small relative to other apps that are just as, if not more fun to play

Also, when the original Pokemon came out on the game boy's back in the day...battery life was reasonable - 15 hrs per set of batteries...i know a lot depends on model of phone, but how energy efficient the Nintendo tech will be on a non-Nintendo system..

amk-aka-phantom 07/05/2011 10:24 PM
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With all these crap "games" for tablets and phones out there trying to pass as serious gaming, I'm not surprised so many people think gaming is for kids and/or losers...

quinton mcleod 07/05/2011 10:27 PM
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It would not be the first time Nintendo has done this. They've created two Zelda titles and a Mario game for the CD-i... They also created a Donkey Kong game for the early Atari systems. Nintendo has even had Mario on a few PC games as well.

kinggraves 07/05/2011 11:06 PM
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erichoyt :
with a Nintendo game comes the Nintendo price tag...which is not small relative to other apps that are just as, if not more fun to playAlso, when the original Pokemon came out on the game boy's back in the day...battery life was reasonable - 15 hrs per set of batteries...i know a lot depends on model of phone, but how energy efficient the Nintendo tech will be on a non-Nintendo system..



They're just writing the software, why would it be any less energy efficient than any other app or game?


"But Nintendo is in complete denial even though it began offering a similar bite-sized format for the Wii (WiiWare) and DSi (DSiWare)."

The way this is written makes it sound like Nintendo got the idea from them, which is odd since WiiWare was launched before Android was even out and shortly after IOS, and Virtual Console was out long before that even, so it's pretty unlikely they're trying to take advantage of the current trend of App store gaming with WiiWare when they released WiiWare before App store gaming was around.

But it's cool, you haven't picked up your DS because you can play on your phone now. Personally I prefer a game that has a bit more substance than just catapulting birds.

anarchy4sale 07/05/2011 11:15 PM
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Played Donkey Kong, with mario and princess for the apple IIgs back in the day.

fir_ser 07/06/2011 12:40 PM
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It’s interesting to hear that Nintendo will develop apps for iOS and Android.
By the way, I didn’t know that Pokémon was a Nintendo franchise.

DSpider 07/06/2011 1:24 AM
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Good for them. SEGA has a few titles on the iOS as well (and probably Android too). "Sonic the Hedgehog" comes to mind. And as we all know, SEGA made consoles as well.

Here's to an official NES/SNES emulator from them !

Hatecrime69 07/06/2011 1:38 AM
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quinton mcleod :
It would not be the first time Nintendo has done this. They've created two Zelda titles and a Mario game for the CD-i... They also created a Donkey Kong game for the early Atari systems. Nintendo has even had Mario on a few PC games as well.



nintendo didn't create those cd-i games, it was the after-math of getting out of the deal for making an snes-cd attachment (that in turn created the cd-i and the playstation) they were made by some company hired by cd-i to make it for them (hence why they are so god-awful)

alidan 07/06/2011 2:12 AM
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Hatecrime69 :
nintendo didn't create those cd-i games, it was the after-math of getting out of the deal for making an snes-cd attachment (that in turn created the cd-i and the playstation) they were made by some company hired by cd-i to make it for them (hence why they are so god-awful)



no... you are thinking of 2 different events that happened some time appart.

gnookergi 07/06/2011 2:30 AM
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Quote :Typically we wouldn't write anything Pokémon-related for obvious reasons.


Obvious? Must not be obvious enough, because I see nothing wrong with it. Are you insinuating something is wrong with it?

Anonymous 07/06/2011 2:50 AM
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WOW, misinformed much? This news amounts to nothing more than Nintendo taking advantage of a semi-related market for marketing purposes. Seriously dude get a clue, Nintendo has done similar things online, in the even more abstract Flash market, and probably would do the same with Facebook Apps. Giving away a taste to entice people to buy Nintendo's real products hardly qualifies as having "caved in", the suggestion is totally ludicrousness.

itchyisvegeta 07/06/2011 4:00 AM
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"Because this will be the first time a Nintendo 1st-party title won't be on Nintendo hardware that we know of, especially a Pokémon title."

Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr on Coleco in 1984. Get your facts right.

Anonymous 07/06/2011 4:35 AM
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don't have the patients to read this thread, but if Nintendo wanted to make a quick fortune, they should just develop or buy on of the existing emulators for nes and snes and even possible n64 for the IOS and sell it for $5. Then sell each title for $1. They would put millions in their pocket very quickly.

sonofmrpeanut 07/06/2011 4:43 AM
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alidan :
no... you are thinking of 2 different events that happened some time appart.



Believe it or not, it's the same turn of events. 3 Zelda games and one Mario game were made for the Phillips CD-i. However, what allowed them to have those games on there was a part of their contract with Nintendo in developing the SNES CD add-on. Nintendo, meanwhile, had no control over any of the 4 games on the CD-i.

Here's the whole story about the SNES CD, just in case you're curious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JKAPMh3K9Y

sonofmrpeanut 07/06/2011 4:46 AM
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Hatecrime69 :
nintendo didn't create those cd-i games, it was the after-math of getting out of the deal for making an snes-cd attachment (that in turn created the cd-i and the playstation) they were made by some company hired by cd-i to make it for them (hence why they are so god-awful)



The CD-i launched in 91, the same year as the SNES. Nintendo had nothing to do with the travesty that was CD-i (minus the commercial w/ Phil Hartman), but it along with their contract w/ Sony did cause Nintendo to approach Phillips.

guanyu210379 07/06/2011 8:43 AM
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I will definitely buy those 3DS/DS games, if they decided to port them to Android, not only Pokemon.

ariel2011 07/06/2011 9:43 AM
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There are already good no official versions of Pokemon for Android.
http://www.sploonch.com/s/__HYBRIS [...] detail.jsf

servarus 07/06/2011 12:26 PM
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reprotected :
Nintendo could make millions selling Pokemon Yellow (with updated graphics) for $15, seeing that people buy FFIII for iOS for the same price.


Heck, with a bit more add-ons I'd pay up to $100.

lafontma 07/06/2011 2:26 PM
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The Sony Ericsson play does NOT run playstation 2 games...

Another wrong fact.

Fail again

HappyBB 07/07/2011 8:17 AM
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I for one really think that Nintendo should start developing games for other platforms instead of on its one. Nintendo should become just a software developer / publisher. No more hardware from it. This is just my subjective opinion.