Nintendo first to offer Turkey IP olive branch
Amid rampant piracy, GBA and DS roll-out looms for Near East
Nintendo Europe will be overseeing a landmark move into Turkey next month, with the Kyoto Game Boy manufacturer the first to enter the traditionally IP hostile country.
Nortec Multimedia will oversee distribution of Game Boy Advance and older Game Boy hardware and software, before a full roll-out of the Nintendo DS planned for next March.
It would seem that Nintendo has taken steps to align itself with some of Turkey’s most powerful companies in an attempt to ensure that the openly secret synergy between police operations and big business falls in its favour.
“Koc, a supporter of Avaturk, is a very strong holding company in Turkey with lots of political clout,” explains Jody Sabral, freelance correspondent in Istanbul. “Presently headed by Rahmi Koç, son of the founder Vehbi Koç, who died recently, Nintendo has done well to find such strong strategic supporters. Koc owns the rights to Ford, Fiat and Tofas autos in Turkey. It also is strong in the banking sector with Koc Bank. The leading consumer brand names in white and electrical goods such as Arcelik and Beko also belong to Koc. The firm also operates Migros the largest Turkish upscale supermarket chain, offering a direct path to the key consumer here.”
Nintendo remains one of the most intellectual property paranoid companies in the games sector, despite its current home console, the GameCube, seeing the lowest piracy level ever at zero percent. Its previous home offerings have suffered terribly at the hands of pirates, with current Game Boy Advance software still seeing endemic levels of counterfeiting.
Turkey has been highlighted several times as being one on the EU’s worst offending neighbouring states when it comes to the protection of digital IP en masses. However, Nintendo has taken the necessary steps to give its product range a fighting chance in what may well prove a valuable, under-exploited region. “Introducing anything new into Turkey is usually pretty thick in paperwork,” continues Sabral, “so having a partner like KOC puts you in a very good position.”
“Nintendo has a very exciting period ahead with the launch of the new handheld console Nintendo DS, so this is an ideal time to expand our presence beyond the European market,” comments NOE president Satoru Shibata. “Nortec Multimedia S.A had already demonstrated its capability as our distributor in a number of other key territories, and we are looking forward to seeing them help us make the same impact on our business in Turkey.”
Videogaming in Turkey is currently something of a strange affair. There are various outlets offering PlayStation and Xbox access though in an Internet café set-up. Official retail availability of hardware is nil, though there is an import sector offering machines to the county’s wealthy. Most of these are PAL European home consoles, with a smattering of NTSC machines coming from the Far East.
The fact that Nintendo didn't make the iQue available to Turkey following its relative success in offering piracy-free gaming options to China, is telling of the firm's intentions.
It remains to be seen if others will follow Nintendo’s move into Turkey.
Nortec Multimedia will oversee distribution of Game Boy Advance and older Game Boy hardware and software, before a full roll-out of the Nintendo DS planned for next March.
It would seem that Nintendo has taken steps to align itself with some of Turkey’s most powerful companies in an attempt to ensure that the openly secret synergy between police operations and big business falls in its favour.
“Koc, a supporter of Avaturk, is a very strong holding company in Turkey with lots of political clout,” explains Jody Sabral, freelance correspondent in Istanbul. “Presently headed by Rahmi Koç, son of the founder Vehbi Koç, who died recently, Nintendo has done well to find such strong strategic supporters. Koc owns the rights to Ford, Fiat and Tofas autos in Turkey. It also is strong in the banking sector with Koc Bank. The leading consumer brand names in white and electrical goods such as Arcelik and Beko also belong to Koc. The firm also operates Migros the largest Turkish upscale supermarket chain, offering a direct path to the key consumer here.”
Nintendo remains one of the most intellectual property paranoid companies in the games sector, despite its current home console, the GameCube, seeing the lowest piracy level ever at zero percent. Its previous home offerings have suffered terribly at the hands of pirates, with current Game Boy Advance software still seeing endemic levels of counterfeiting.
Turkey has been highlighted several times as being one on the EU’s worst offending neighbouring states when it comes to the protection of digital IP en masses. However, Nintendo has taken the necessary steps to give its product range a fighting chance in what may well prove a valuable, under-exploited region. “Introducing anything new into Turkey is usually pretty thick in paperwork,” continues Sabral, “so having a partner like KOC puts you in a very good position.”
“Nintendo has a very exciting period ahead with the launch of the new handheld console Nintendo DS, so this is an ideal time to expand our presence beyond the European market,” comments NOE president Satoru Shibata. “Nortec Multimedia S.A had already demonstrated its capability as our distributor in a number of other key territories, and we are looking forward to seeing them help us make the same impact on our business in Turkey.”
Videogaming in Turkey is currently something of a strange affair. There are various outlets offering PlayStation and Xbox access though in an Internet café set-up. Official retail availability of hardware is nil, though there is an import sector offering machines to the county’s wealthy. Most of these are PAL European home consoles, with a smattering of NTSC machines coming from the Far East.
The fact that Nintendo didn't make the iQue available to Turkey following its relative success in offering piracy-free gaming options to China, is telling of the firm's intentions.
It remains to be seen if others will follow Nintendo’s move into Turkey.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
frod 22 Nov 2004 11:54
1/4
Koc? Arcelik?
Is it April already?
Is it April already?
schnide 22 Nov 2004 12:18
2/4
No it isn't. In Turkish these two words are pronounced:
Koc - "Koch"
Arcelik - "Archelik"
Spong hasn't or isn't able to put the accents on these two words.
Incidentally to the story, GBA piracy is absolutely rife in Turkey so Nintendo will have their work cut out..
Koc - "Koch"
Arcelik - "Archelik"
Spong hasn't or isn't able to put the accents on these two words.
Incidentally to the story, GBA piracy is absolutely rife in Turkey so Nintendo will have their work cut out..
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Joji 22 Nov 2004 13:06
3/4
If there is no real retail sector in Turkey then why not? One of the best ways to fight piracy is to offer an alternative, still wish they would do the same for old games to download and play. Only question is how many folk there afford the DS, to make it a worthwhile venture?
Perhaps Nintendo should have launched the GC there too if GC piracy is like I said ages ago. So even when GC is budget price or dead and replaced over here, it might still sell in Turkey the same way iQue Player sells in China.
Nice to see a lot of this moving into untapped countries by Nintendo, Sony and (perhaps) MS.
Perhaps Nintendo should have launched the GC there too if GC piracy is like I said ages ago. So even when GC is budget price or dead and replaced over here, it might still sell in Turkey the same way iQue Player sells in China.
Nice to see a lot of this moving into untapped countries by Nintendo, Sony and (perhaps) MS.
metropolis 22 Nov 2004 20:29
4/4
That is good news for us, Turks. hopefully more like these will happen. piracy is common in Turkey mainly because of the very high prices. the games or consoles aren't sold by the companies themselves but they are imported by individuals. though that is not an excuse. there has been campaigns against that, people telling if piracy continues no gaming company would sell anything here. also new goverment is fighting against piracy more efficently. another thin is Koç is a strong name in bussines and has a good network of shops all around the country. hopefully i will see game boy ds sold here too.