Headline RePLAY – 1.26.12

Today on Headline RePLAY: Nintendo reports a complete loss for 2011 and a response to NimbleBit’s letter to Zynga.


Despite Nintendo’s recovery with the 3DS, the company continues to struggle after another report of quarterly losses; Nintendo now expects an annual loss of 45 billion yen.

“We had higher expectations for the year-end season, but failed to meet them,” Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told reporters in Osaka.

According to analysts, the losses were attributed to a strong yen, the unprecedented price cut of the 3DS and the mobile smartphone and tablet market.

“To say that (the days of console) are over is likely an overstatement,” said Shigeo Sugawara, a senior investment manager at Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Asset Management. “But social network and Internet delivered games are growing and structurally changing the future of the industry, which is a strong wind against Nintendo.”

Beset on all fronts, can Nintendo weather the storm of 2012 with its momentum on 3DS sales and the Wii U?

*Source: Reuters


Yesterday, NimbleBit posted a graphic letter that alleged Zynga has blatantly ripped off Tiny Tower for its Dream Heights game. However, this counter-letter contends that NimbleBit is guilty of calling the kettle black.

It observes that Tiny Tower could’ve been an “elaboration” or “continuation” of Corporation Inc., a flash game hosted by Amor Games. And unlike NimbleBit, the letter notes that Corporation Inc. credits Sim Tower, a game that Tiny Tower, Dream Heights and Corporation Inc. are all derivative of.

The letter ends with some friendly and familiar advice for NimbleBit: “All I’m saying is relax, your situation isn’t so bad, Tiny Tower looks like a fun game and its proven itself on the market. So stay humble, don’t worry, and go out there and get inspired! (may I suggest starting at Amor Games or Kongregate.com, you can find tons of “Inspiration” there).”

*Source: Kotaku

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