In a recent interview with CNBC on the launch of the black-colored Wii, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime took some time out to talk about the growing competition from Apple in the mobile gaming space. Fils-Aime has said in the past that iPhone and iPad won't hurt Nintendo's business, and he reiterated that sentiment with CNBC.
“We have not seen any impact on our DS business. In the first three months [of 2010] we’ve set two new sales records for the Nintendo DS,” said Fils-Aime. “We think that through April that we’ll have the best four month time period to kick off a new calendar year that we’ve ever had with the device. So certainly we’re seeing momentum, they’re seeing momentum. I think two products can succeed at the same time."
His comments come on the heels of the announcement that Apple’s iPad has sold 1 million units in less than a month.
3 Comments
May 4, 2010
Sure, Reggie, no effect... and about that 8% drop in hardware sales and 24% drop in software sales for the DS line in 2009? Old news, I guess. Saying the competition makes no difference to your business and everything is fine is not reassuring anyone with a functioning frontal lobe.
May 4, 2010
I think the iPod Touch might have an effect on DS, but if you're looking at the kids market, how many kids have an iPhone or an iPad? Anyway, I agree Steve, Apple's business has to be eating into DS somewhat.
May 5, 2010
You're right, James, the iPod Touch is the real problem for Nintendo. And it's not just the hardware per se; it's the pernicious effect of thousands of free games, and thousands more with an average selling price far below DS games. Which tends to make DS games seem awfully expensive. Plus the fact that you can carry all your games with you with no cartridges needed... and play music and videos. These are problems that Nintendo can and should address, but I don't think the 3DS really does that. Certainly pulling the blanket over your head doesn't make the monsters vanish, at least in this case.