Intro

ÔÇô New 3DS selling well, but the old 3DS did not, so HW sales were 8.73m. SW selling well. Pokemon, Smash numbers.

ÔÇô Mario Kart 8 at 5.11m, Smash Wii U at 3.65m. Wii U HW 2.88m.

ÔÇô Entertainment has value, centering on dedicated platforms. Providing premium experiences only available on such. Making more SW.

ÔÇô Xenoblade for New 3DS released. Rhythm Heaven, FE: if released. Supporting 1st-party and strong 3rd-party SW.

ÔÇô On Wii U, Splatoon, YoshiÔÇÖs Woolly World, and Super Mario Maker are being released.

ÔÇô Card-based and yarn amiibo are being released. The NFC dongle for old 3DS and 2DS being released. Looking to increase demand.

ÔÇô Supporting amiibo on Smash 3DS with the NFC dongle.

ÔÇô About DeNA, starting smart device apps this year. Smart devices different from dedicated consoles, so even w/ same IP, adapting play styles to suit smart devices will maximize value and drive the expansion of the gaming population.

ÔÇô Continuing with film adaptations and character merchandising to increase mind-share of IPs. Ex: Universal agreement. More later.

ÔÇô Making a marketing appeal for the IPs through experiences only possible at theme parks.

ÔÇô Making progress with QOL. (No details given.)

ÔÇô 1st measure: distribution of dividends.

ÔÇô 2nd measure: selection of board members.

Q&A

ÔÇô Q1: Is there a breakdown of packaged vs. download sales of 3DS and Wii U software?

ThereÔÇÖs a difference in value on packaged and download versions of 3DS and Wii U software.
Iwata: We believe download versions have the same value and should be priced the same. Some companies price DLs cheaper due to the there being no used sales or store price reductions. We stress the value of Nintendo software, so we price the same. Purchases can be made through the eShop or with download cards bought at stores. We typically donÔÇÖt discount, but stores may. There are different risks with each. Packaged versions carry inventory risk. Download versions arenÔÇÖt activated without going through the register first. Being on-demand, there is no inventory risk. Nintendo cannot control the price of packaged versions. Doing so would infringe the law. We know some arenÔÇÖt satisfied w/o a diff. We plan to provide some benefit with the new membership service starting in the fall.

ÔÇô Q2: Would it be possible to change the minimum stock purchase from 100 to 10 or 20 shares? ItÔÇÖs expensive for individuals to buy.

Reducing the minimum stock purchase would increase the number of shareholders, and may possibly increase the price. Right now, itÔÇÖs limited by regulation. Changes to Tokyo Stock Exchange market regulations werenÔÇÖt possible. Mins canÔÇÖt be changed, so a split would be required. A split might be a plus for some, but undesired by others. Will consider.

ÔÇô Q3: Consecutive launches of 3DS and Wii U were a failure. 3DS recovered with a revised price, but Wii U canÔÇÖt. Will NX suffer too?

As you say, the launches didnÔÇÖt go well. Especially the Wii U. The 3DS was restructured domestically with several measures. The Wii U has not been restructured. Looking back, the DS didnÔÇÖt sell very well right away, but was propelled by Brain Training. Ideally sales would start well, but only Wii has really done that. NX was announced as a new platform alongside the DeNA venture. The NX was announced then to indicate that we are not retreating from game platforms and will continue the hardware business. Normally, the announcement wouldÔÇÖve been made later. It was like revealing a magic trick ahead of time. New proposals require surprises to follow. Such information on the NX wonÔÇÖt be announced until 2016. No announcements today. Third-party hardware selections are based primarily upon install base numbers. Several unannounced collaborations with 3rd-parties are making progress.

ÔÇô Q4: Randy JohnsonÔÇÖs number 51 should probably be retired (baseball), but itÔÇÖd overlap with IchiroÔÇÖs number. Any thoughts?

NOA owns the Seattle Mariners as passed down by former President Yamauchi. It was unexpected for a Japanese business to own a Major League team, so we plan to continue valuing it. Randy Johnson and IchiroÔÇÖs numbers are not decided by Nintendo. Personally, IÔÇÖm friendly with Ichiro and would like to cheer him on, but that doesnÔÇÖt answer your question.

ÔÇô Q6: About E3, there were few software titles shown this year. Why were only titles to be released this year shown?

Miyamoto: Regarding E3, what you said is partially true. ItÔÇÖs available on the Internet, so itÔÇÖs a global announcement. However, itÔÇÖs normally an event aimed at the NA business. ItÔÇÖs not only for titles coming soon; last year, experiments shown. This yearÔÇÖs announcements didnÔÇÖt include licensee software, so the number was low. This criticism is understood. Sony and Microsoft had many announcements of future titles that were not playable. VR lined the floor as a dream exhibit. There were lots of video demos of those titles. Nintendo played them. They received high praise as living room game consoles. We collected lots of data and positive impressions.

Iwata: We realize Nintendo fans in Japan were disappointed. ItÔÇÖs a US trade show, so whatÔÇÖs included there is done with both global and American audiences in mind. This is what NintendoÔÇÖs booth looked like. It was different from other companies'; everyone was smiling, having fun with games. We didnÔÇÖt hold a press conference, but had a Digital Event. Before that, we held the Nintendo World Championships. NWC was very lively. We want to correct the lack of satisfaction with E3 streams, but as a whole, reactions werenÔÇÖt all bad. As Miyamoto said regarding short-term E3 announcements, we decide this on a yearly basis. We talk about future titles when needed. There are years when products are more finished and we can communicate their appeal. That may explain the difference this year.

ÔÇô Q7: As a game fan, IÔÇÖm worried about the split between the NX and Wii U.

Iwata: We canÔÇÖt talk about the NX. If we do, competitors may take our ideas and customers wonÔÇÖt be surprised. This would not be beneficial for the company or its shareholders. The NX is new hardware, and will start from 0. However, the 3DS and Wii U have install bases. Immediately cutting off SW for previous HW upon the release of a new machine is inefficient. We will continue making 3DS/Wii SW while preparing for the NX. We are prioritizing satisfying customers who purchased the Wii U.

ÔÇô Q8: Apps for smart devices will be released this year, but will they be paid or freemium? WhatÔÇÖs the target age group?

Iwata: Smart devices include phones and tablets, which have large global install bases. Profits on big hits are very large. However, this isnÔÇÖt an easy world in which just adding famous Nintendo characters will result in a big hit. As for monetization, there are regular sales and paid items or ÔÇ£free to playÔÇØ systems. I donÔÇÖt think that ÔÇ£free to playÔÇØ is a good word, so I call it ÔÇ£free to start.ÔÇØ Regular sales arenÔÇÖt succeeding. Apps for smart devices are highly competitive, and priced low. Some are discounted 90%. As for free to start, itÔÇÖs possible to sell better progress rates or rare items. ItÔÇÖs becoming a societal problem. Globally, there are more that charge small prices to many users. Nintendo wants to make many apps that are global hits. We want to target many users irrespective of age, gender, game experience, or region to earn small payments from many users. WeÔÇÖre planning titles for this year and next, but not a large number of them. Console SW have big impacts on release, & slow down. Smart device appsÔÇÖ users gradually increase. Development doesnÔÇÖt end. I want to raise a few of these.

ÔÇô Q9: Using a playerÔÇÖs face in a game is usually just of the person holding the machine, but will you show othersÔÇÖ faces? I want to buy lots of Nintendo merchandise, but thereÔÇÖs no Nintendo bread. There is candy. Could there be Uniqlo shirts, or shoes?

For character faces, Mii characters have been used since the Wii. They have lots of freedom and appear in games. Using faces resembling your favorite hero or heroine is difficult. Is it better to have more licensed products for the sake of it? ThereÔÇÖs quality control. Characters become consumable. Nintendo wants to raise its IP over the long-term. Making positive use of them isnÔÇÖt in the quantity, but in increasing quality.

ÔÇô Q10: Your company appears to hold lots of its own stock. How do you plan to use it?

Iwata: Yes, the company holds more than usual. ItÔÇÖs a point of discussion. Famicom is 32 this year. WeÔÇÖre approaching a turning point, so weÔÇÖd like people to hold. WeÔÇÖre thinking of redeeming more and such upon achieving results. WeÔÇÖre thinking of the timing to use our shares for mergers & acquisitions and partnerships.

ÔÇô Q11: Are you planning to make more use of Nintendo characters? Pokemon anime is popular worldwide.

Iwata: This Q&A overlaps with the previous one. We consider this internally and think globally. Short-term hits may be oversupplied, creating cases of excess stock and character value damage.

ÔÇô Q12: How are Virtual Console sales? Some SW can only be acquired on Virtual Console. Can anything be done about discontinued SW? I was also happy to hear about Splatoon reaching 1m sales.

Iwata: WeÔÇÖre happy that Splatoon, in which new squid characters squirt ink, has been received well and sold 1m quickly. We do not disclose individual Virtual Console sales numbers, as there would be no end to them. Virtual Console releases require testing, checking for present-day issues, and other various work. ItÔÇÖs not that we donÔÇÖt want to put in the effort, but thereÔÇÖs new SW development, so we canÔÇÖt use our limited headcount just on old products. With a few exceptions, we have the rights to Nintendo titles and can release them, but negotiating 3rd-party SW isnÔÇÖt easy. We want to strive to continue providing a satisfactory Virtual Console lineup.

Fuente

Os dejo más datos que han dado en la reunión:

Ventas de juegos en WiiU

Mario Kart 8 - 5.11 millones
SSB WiiU - 3.65 millones
Hyrule Warriors - 2.88 millones

Sobre su relación con las Third Parties

ÔÇ£Several Unannounced Collaborations with 3rd-parties are Making Progress.ÔÇØ

Mins canÔÇÖt be changed, so a split would be required. A split might be a plus for some, but undesired by others. Will consider. As you say, the launches didnÔÇÖt go well. Especially the Wii U. The 3DS was restructured domestically with several measures. The Wii U has not been restructured. Looking back, the DS didnÔÇÖt sell very well right away, but was propelled by Brain Training. Ideally sales would start well, but only Wii has really done that. NX was announced as a new platform alongside the DeNA venture. The NX was announced then to indicate that we are not retreating from game platforms and will continue the hardware business. Normally, the announcement wouldÔÇÖve been made later. It was like revealing a magic trick ahead of time. New proposals require surprises to follow. Such information on the NX wonÔÇÖt be announced until 2016. No announcements today. Third-party hardware selections are based primarily upon install base numbers. Several unannounced collaborations with 3rd-parties are making progress.

Sobre las ventas digitales

More Than 30% of Animal Crossing: New Leaf Was Sold Digitally, Less than 15% for Smash Bros

If you look at our annual report, it shows the progression of our digital business. If you do the math, roughly, it shows that digital revenue is about 20% of the total. So 20% is the average. Animal Crossing, for example, is north of 30%. A game like Smash Bros. is less than 15%.

Sobre las consolas e internet

in the Americas, are effectively 100% connected devices, meaning the consumer has setup a [Nintendo Network ID]. They connect to a Wi-Fi network. For us, thatÔÇÖs a very effective means of not only driving our eShop business, but also driving a number of other ways we connect with our consumer. GamePad alerts are one example. The level of connectivity is the strongest in the Americas. ThatÔÇÖs something that, from a business standpoint, we can drive very effectively here.

Sobre WiiU

We canÔÇÖt talk about the NX. If we do, competitors may take our ideas and customers wonÔÇÖt be surprised. This would not be beneficial for the company or its shareholders. The NX is new hardware, and will start from 0. However, the 3DS and Wii U have install bases. Immediately cutting off SW for previous HW upon the release of a new machine is inefficient. We will continue making 3DS/Wii U SW while preparing for the NX. We are prioritizing satisfying customers who purchased the Wii U.

Sobre los Amiibos y las Third

There are a number of different things that we can do, there are a number of different things that weÔÇÖre talking with different business partners about. We have nothing to share here, but to your general question, is Nintendo prepared to partner with the right company to do unique and compelling experiences for consumers? The answer is yes. WeÔÇÖve got a history of doing that.

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Lo que más me ha llamado la atención, a parte de las ventas del Hyrule Warriors, es cuando habla de NX como un hardware que ha partido desde 0.

Habrán entrado en razón viendo el acercamiendo de Sony/Microsoft al PC y visto la patada que les han dado las third por sus arquitecturas raras y poco amigables?

No han dicho nada, la verdad.

"The NX is new hardware, and will start from 0".

Para mí esto suena a que esta vez por fin van a usar una arquitectura nueva.

Me ha llamado la atención esto que ha sacado Neogaf de la reunión. La edad media de las 10 personas con más poder dentro de Nintendo es astronómica.






Los 10 acaban de ser reelegidos otra vez.