Iwata Hints At Online Notification System For Smartphones, Social Networks

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata suggested that the company is looking into notifying players of matchmaking or leaderboard opportunities on Nintendo systems through smartphones and social networks. In a Q&A following the company's recent earnings statement, Iwata said that, while Nintendo is not interested in releasing games on mobile phones and social networks, the company is "very interested in how to make use of them for our business." He gave the potential example of a Nintendo system connecting with an "open network" to inform players of new gameplay opportunities available when they return home. "If...when you are out, your smartphone gives you information from your friend like, 'Let's play with this game tonight,' or 'I broke your record on this game,' you will be motivated to start a new game." "We are currently drastically changing our way of thinking regarding networks, which might have looked very closed before," he continued. "We would like to respond to the changing times in this way." Iwata strongly ruled out the idea of licensing Nintendo properties for social or smartphone games, however, noting that while such a move might be profitable in the short term, it may harm the company's future prospects. "One advantage for us is that we can offer software together with hardware, in which we can add such functions to our hardware as necessary to enhance the value of our content," he said. "Basically, therefore, we do not think that we will grant licenses for our intellectual property to outside companies and have them depleted, even if they would give us short-term profits."