Iwata-san Clarifies Revolution Download Charges
Games to be paid for, used as incentives, etc.
There has been some confusion in recent days as to how the Revolution back-catalogue will be funded. Last week’s Famitsu made reference to the fact that some software will be free of charge, See our report here. Though, as it turns out, free might not be the best way of describing the selection of 221 NES, SNES and Nintendo 64 games to go live on day one.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has gone on record to outline more precisely the company’s plans. “The concept of games being free is a baseless rumour,” he said. “The system is not finalised as yet, though it’s more likely that players will be able to download back-catalogue games when they buy new ones. Perhaps we’ll run campaigns around some old games for a limited time. There will be a variety of ways to access the back catalogue, but we must ensure that Nintendo sees profit from this in the end.”
This echoes the thoughts of Nintendo Elvis Shigeru Miyamoto who, speaking exclusively to SPOnG about this very issue said, “As far as titles are concerned, we’ll have to choose what to make available. But I should underline that we can offer whatever we want to from the back-catalogue. It's simply a matter of selecting them and picking them out! As far as a fee is concerned, that hasn’t been announced or decided yet. Though if there is a fee, I can tell you that it will be minimal.”
If you missed it, catch the full interview here.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has gone on record to outline more precisely the company’s plans. “The concept of games being free is a baseless rumour,” he said. “The system is not finalised as yet, though it’s more likely that players will be able to download back-catalogue games when they buy new ones. Perhaps we’ll run campaigns around some old games for a limited time. There will be a variety of ways to access the back catalogue, but we must ensure that Nintendo sees profit from this in the end.”
This echoes the thoughts of Nintendo Elvis Shigeru Miyamoto who, speaking exclusively to SPOnG about this very issue said, “As far as titles are concerned, we’ll have to choose what to make available. But I should underline that we can offer whatever we want to from the back-catalogue. It's simply a matter of selecting them and picking them out! As far as a fee is concerned, that hasn’t been announced or decided yet. Though if there is a fee, I can tell you that it will be minimal.”
If you missed it, catch the full interview here.
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Comments
Ditto 7 Jun 2005 16:50
1/9
Nintendo need to get the price and release schedule right. They can't charge more than £5 per game. And we can't see the backcatalogue being opened in Europe later than everywhere else.
In addition, it might be wise for Ninty to look at game downloading in the same way as M$ are looking at it.
In addition, it might be wise for Ninty to look at game downloading in the same way as M$ are looking at it.
ozfunghi 7 Jun 2005 17:46
2/9
Iwata wrote:
...though it’s more likely that players will be able to download back-catalogue games when they buy new ones...
This is what i've been saying and thinking since the back-catalogue has been announced, some sort of catalogue like the stars catalogue. Buy a game, register, get credits that you can get classics for. Makes a lot of sense. The old games are free, but stimulate purchasing new software.
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fluffstardx 7 Jun 2005 18:33
3/9
I can see it being a "register online and get the original 19xx [ninty console] release for download free!" offer.
Imagine, for example, buying the new Mario, and getting Super Mario All-Stars for free... A fantastic idea, with much potential. Shame they can't put the fantastic Goldeneye or Perfect Dark in it, or even Banjo-Kazooie...
Hell, even Blast Corps would have done.
Imagine, for example, buying the new Mario, and getting Super Mario All-Stars for free... A fantastic idea, with much potential. Shame they can't put the fantastic Goldeneye or Perfect Dark in it, or even Banjo-Kazooie...
Hell, even Blast Corps would have done.
Joji 7 Jun 2005 19:36
4/9
This is where problems are created and the same problem with Xbox Live and any online service in a way.
If people are gonna have to pay you'd need a universal method of payment. Not everyone owns a credit/debit cards you know. It's this hurdle that has stopped me from playing games online altogether. I suppose Paypal or Western Union is a better possibilty too.
Then there's the price of these games. How much is too much? I'd pay 50p-£1 per game, any more than that would be too much IMO. Mp3s are still having price problems to this very day so they must get it right. Which is why many still get them for free, Nintendo must be alert by this. They have to give folk an incentive to not download them for free.
Perhaps having a credit system would be good next to the ''buy a new game get an old one for free'' model. Or perhaps as extras in the new games you play in a Shenmue style or when you complete them. The credit system would work like this. A credit system would work in a similar way that the memory card biz worked with F-Zero Arcade. Play and win extra credit for getting so far on your Rev. Reset Rev then go online and using credits you just won to bag a few new games. Such credit system could also run into the code of all Rev games thus making sure you are always accumilating credits which ever game you play.
I don't know, call them Game Rupees (after Legend of Zelda) or something.
If people are gonna have to pay you'd need a universal method of payment. Not everyone owns a credit/debit cards you know. It's this hurdle that has stopped me from playing games online altogether. I suppose Paypal or Western Union is a better possibilty too.
Then there's the price of these games. How much is too much? I'd pay 50p-£1 per game, any more than that would be too much IMO. Mp3s are still having price problems to this very day so they must get it right. Which is why many still get them for free, Nintendo must be alert by this. They have to give folk an incentive to not download them for free.
Perhaps having a credit system would be good next to the ''buy a new game get an old one for free'' model. Or perhaps as extras in the new games you play in a Shenmue style or when you complete them. The credit system would work like this. A credit system would work in a similar way that the memory card biz worked with F-Zero Arcade. Play and win extra credit for getting so far on your Rev. Reset Rev then go online and using credits you just won to bag a few new games. Such credit system could also run into the code of all Rev games thus making sure you are always accumilating credits which ever game you play.
I don't know, call them Game Rupees (after Legend of Zelda) or something.
Dreadknux 8 Jun 2005 10:50
5/9
fluffstardx wrote:
Shame they can't put the fantastic Goldeneye or Perfect Dark in it, or even Banjo-Kazooie...
Hell, even Blast Corps would have done.
Hell, even Blast Corps would have done.
If I remember correctly, Nintendo own the publishing and [game?] license for GoldenEye 007. So they could technically be well within their rights to release it. Of course all third party games have to go through Nintendo for licensing, but second party games are a little bit different... (especially GoldenEye, as Nintendo had a pretty big part to play in that to my knowledge).
Ditto 8 Jun 2005 11:06
6/9
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
If I remember correctly, Nintendo own the publishing and [game?] license for GoldenEye 007. So they could technically be well within their rights to release it.
Nintendo published all Rare titles, but don't have IP rights to games such as Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini and co, and therefore would be unable to republish.
However, I don't know if the Goldeneye 007 licence was granted to Nintendo or Rare. It could be that its now expired, especially as EA have rights to the Bond films until, I believe, 2010 (or at least for several years to come).
Interestingly, now that Sony own MGM after EA's licence expires Sony can create PS-exclusive Bond games, and probably dent EA's profits in the process.
ozfunghi 8 Jun 2005 16:46
7/9
I've alway heard Nintendo owned the rights to GoldenEye, not Rare. The list someone made, based on Nintendo owned games, also has GE listed. You can find it on IGN, though the list was made by someone else. The list doesn't include PD however.
As for how to pay for the games (Joji), Iwata said they were thinking about selling paper cards with an code on. Enter the code online to download a game. The cards could be bought in any game store. Also, i'd personally go for buying new games and saving credits for old games à la Stars Catalogue.
As for how to pay for the games (Joji), Iwata said they were thinking about selling paper cards with an code on. Enter the code online to download a game. The cards could be bought in any game store. Also, i'd personally go for buying new games and saving credits for old games à la Stars Catalogue.
Ditto 8 Jun 2005 17:04
8/9
ozfunghi wrote:
The list doesn't include PD however.
As I said above, the PD IP is owned by Rare and therefore Nintendo would be unable to publish :).
As for how to pay for the games (Joji), Iwata said they were thinking about selling paper cards with an code on. Enter the code online to download a game. The cards could be bought in any game store. Also, i'd personally go for buying new games and saving credits for old games à la Stars Catalogue.
Yeah, I prefer that idea with cards (Animal Crossing style) or a swipe card like a phone (Top up your Revolution).
The Stars Catalogue was one of the more pointless ideas.
Finally, I hope they keep the Revolution name.
Jayenkai 8 Jun 2005 21:32
9/9
Aaah.. Paper cards with codes on!
See, when I first heard the "Cards" comment, the first thing I thought of was that the "Unopenable" front tab on the Revolution could've had a little card slot in it..
Paper cards + codes = piracy!!
See, when I first heard the "Cards" comment, the first thing I thought of was that the "Unopenable" front tab on the Revolution could've had a little card slot in it..
Paper cards + codes = piracy!!