NINTENDO WII STOPS PRODUCTION

Nintendo warned, perhaps to prepare millions of players in emotional shock: Wii, released in 2006, is officially no longer produced in Japan. The manufacturer has stated on its official website, adding that the group's factories no longer came the ancient machine.


The countdown is now launched for the disappearance of the console on the shelves in Japan as elsewhere, although it is unclear if there are supplies in Europe and the United States. While Sony and Microsoft are preparing the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One, Nintendo has officially passed both feet in the new generation, with its Wii U.

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MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE :Review

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is sort of the culmination of all that Capcom have done to democratize its flagship series in the West. Seriously enhanced version of Monster Hunter Tri, the title arrives simultaneously on 3DS and Wii U in the West, with its dedicated and bundles a lot of instructional videos. The Wild Hunt so up in better conditions than on Wii, but she still has enough bite?

The day the dinosaurs are back on Earth other than in packages of cookies or movies graphics, players Monster Hunter may have a little more likely to survive than other people. Unless the new episodes become interplanetary hits, there will be also a lot of Japanese in the lot to forge armor scales and convertible faster than any other Péquin axes. Suffice to say it will be a talented negotiator or start training now. Fluke, the Ultimate version that interests us today is certainly the best to start a career as a monster hunter or to pursue full-time or nearly so. To quickly learn the complete novice who would not have the time to read the test of Monster Hunter Tri, it is a 3D action game in the third person with homeports which prepare the Free hunting for collecting resource points and multi-player missions or time-limited, in large areas cut into several portions numbered.


VAS-Y MOGA

That's the outline, but as the devil is in the details and that video games are an invention of the devil, as elaborate a little on what makes the charm of the game: fighting and going with the preparations. At first glance, it is not yet what attracted. Rigid and slow actions of the character, there is no real lock or dynamic camera, explanations about the specifics of each weapon only shown in the menus ... These details do not help the novice to say that probably entertain a few hours later, when he has mastered the confusing handling and will face his first big dinosaur. Unlike the 3DS version not need additional accessories to enhance grip, the GamePad fits the bill with its second dedicated to the camera stick, making it far less frustrating the fierce battles and swimming in particular. We can also monetize its Wii U Pro if more traditional pads are preferred, while continuing to enjoy the perks of the second screen and microphone (for voice chat) integrated GamePad. However, it will wait until next month to see the whole game on mablette and end up on servers with hunters living across the Atlantic Ocean.

When faced with some hefty creatures, everything is a matter of timing attacks, management endurance, observation to identify weaknesses and efficient use of its limited reserves of objects. No gain experience, level up or skills to unlock, just the purchase or crafting equipment supplied by collecting materials and quest rewards. As every kind of weapon (sword, double blades, hammers, bow, spear, fusarbalètes, lanceflingues horns hunting or incredible morpho-axes) to handle and act in its own way, it is also essential to find one that suits his style of play, however some particularly difficult to use, particularly when attacking from a distance and not use infinite ammo, but there is something for all tastes and all opponents. You can even place the gems to boost many skills or use special coatings with additional effects to the arrows of his quiver unlimited. Whole art of war to discover little by little, like most important game mechanics


BOREDOM HUNTER

We say what they want about the pleasure of playing his life against an armored beast ten to twenty times larger than his avatar, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is a game that also engages your attention totally uninteresting tasks. Mushroom picking, collecting shells, walleye and other evisceration of largely peaceful creatures mullet are part of time-consuming occupations between two pitched battles against the forces of nature. And that's not counting the indirect additional activities such as farm management, market exchanges or the fishing fleet, which, however, have the merit of being optional and not take too much time - in the absence of be explained in clear. Confusion or lack of clear information on certain game elements have not yet been resolved with this "final" episode, the aberrations of translation ("remove object" instead of "remove object" in a box) and windows reduced by texts that maintaining irritation.

We must also recognize that despite the significant challenge to overcome alone (or with two cats) titanic voracious animals, nothing beats the feel of the missions with several real players. Wii U, the big advantage is the easy access to an online game without any noticeable lag in our different parts, with a significant number of trade fairs and options available to find a solution to the part level or requirements . Voice chat is managed basis, while textual discussions are greatly facilitated by the touch screen, stylus and virtual keyboard. The need to use ad hoc mode turning the console on the bridge for the 3DS version of downloadable software is not yet available at the time of the test, it is impossible to judge the operation of this process, but it is also possible for a player Wii U invite up to three owners of the game on 3DS local running raids as well and simply, although some little monsters or items to loot are strangely not always synchronized between the two versions.

MOVES LIKE JAGGI

The real substance of Monster Hunter is in these parts group that capture the interest of the tactical details, since the resistance of monsters is inflated by the number of hunters. The discussions generated are just as important as the address of the participants in the clashes, which can end up catching monster weakened through traps and tranquilizers to increase the rewards, at the same time as the rewarding feeling of having been thank you its a monster instead of completing a conventional manner. Miss the multi is simply unthinkable, despite all efforts to not hamper the solo. Being able to transfer his back between the Wii U and 3DS - a promise to launch but not yet implemented in our function versions - is also valuable for those who wish to invest in the living room and moving at once. Generally, MH3U almost always offer a solution, or a configuration adapted to applications using the player, even if it sometimes well look in the menus or have anything other than the bare console and game

Difficult, however, to recognize the work done on the HD adaptation in terms of achievement and fluidity. Despite brighter compared to the mobile website and rendering fortunately cleaner than Tri Wii colors, the game suffers from stuttering and a frame rate lower than on 3DS, even in villages yet contain little moving parts. The engine and textures also show their age, the transition to high definition making them more visible animated gifs used in some settings. This however does not take away anything neat animations massive creatures, serving also the gameplay as it offers clues about the health and nervousness monsters. The sound quality is not left out either, with separate between the GamePad and TV to enjoy the compositions and sound effects, even the most bizarre or annoying channels. Technically at what you can expect on a home console of this generation, but this port with additional content far from trivial compared to the original game on Wii.

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SCRIBBLENAUTS UNLIMITED

After a detour to the persistent mixed with GST Hybrid, the U.S. studio 5th Cell returns to its flagship license: Scribblenauts. Available from mid-November in North America, Scribblenauts Unlimited could allow the series to introduce the latest console from Nintendo thanks to a unique multiplayer mode. Remains to be seen if the previous episodes of recurring defects have been corrected or not during the transition to the Wii U.

Until now confined to markets consoles and mobile phones, there Scribblenauts sign first appeared in our living rooms. The recipe is not turned upside down, however, and the player must solve puzzles always more or less wacky using his imagination. For this word is written in the book of magic little Maxwell book that can give life to all conceivable objects - insults, names, terms and bloody sexual characters apart. For the record, this rascal, out and about with her sister Lily, found fun to give a wormy apple to a homeless hungry. Revenge, the old man a curse transforming sis hero stone which, admittedly, is really not very nice. So, Maxwell has made up his mind to do good and get all the fragments Starite lying in order to help his little sister. The friendly atmosphere is a pretext for frolicking in open environments and lend a hand to people who met once their problems solved, will not fail to leave any chips Starite.


IT'S OVER 9000 WORDS!

Specifically, it shows a "sunshine" to remove the presence of clouds sad poor lady, we created a "balloon" for an elderly person can get a closer look a bird or even a "Dancing Bear" to entertain a passerby. A priori, the range of possibilities is endless with more than 30000 words are recognized, three times more than in Scribblenauts Remix. Indeed, and this is the main strength as 5th Cell, the puzzles have many ways to be resolved, which often leads to funny situations. For example, why use a ladder to get a kitten stuck in a tree while a good shot will scare him and bring him back pronto on land? The humor that comes more from the context that the dialogue remains significant and colorful coating of title does not leave indifferent lovers of beautiful 2D former, especially since the move to high definition rendering magnifies 'cartoon'. But to enjoy the HD display, it is still necessary that the TV is on ...

In Fact, the game shows so enjoyable GamePad in one hand and pen in the other one looks very rarely flat screen and a roof for the firm Kyoto has just spend in the era of high definition. Refractory to touch guests may use the directional pad and buttons in front for all actions: write, jump, interact with NPCs etc.. But honestly, in solo mode you prefer switch to low resolution and only move to the left mablette feel to practice a portable game in his living room. Moreover, if one thinks moult ways to solve a puzzle, it will repeatedly go in a particular direction: the developers. Generally simpler than its predecessors, the title of 5th Cell limits some players' imaginations. Thus, it has tried to entertain the character mentioned above with a drum solo, but nothing worked. As for the vampire wanting to drink something original, it had to rely on an ordinary glass of syrup for a mojito seemed to slip out of the question. In summary, we have more words available but not necessarily more potentially feasible crazy ideas.


THE MYSTERY, THE JULIEN DRILLED

Yet it clearly feels the desire of developers to enrich the original recipe including among others a multiplayer mode, a first for the saga. Fun on paper, it is more anecdotal than really interesting in practice. Usable up to four players, including three in the Wiimote, the title allows friends to control objects and characters created in advance with the GamePad - provided, as usual, to have the required equipment. This is also the only time the TV screen may be lit as it brings some comfort gaming giving the opportunity for everyone to interact and offer ideas of words. In short, where Super Scribblenauts added more adjectives, Scribblenauts Unlimited him above all allows to modify existing objects and people at will by altering the shape, size, color ... Better, as it evoked just before pure creation is now possible, you improbable mixture of animals, objects to the wildest attributes: fire resistance, reaction to electricity ... The budding creators can also share their findings with the community and recover by then even those of the other players if they wish. But behind this apparent inclination to do things, we can only curse to the general public approach to the game

Indeed, some goals are squarely against the establishment as just pick an object trailing a few steps, to bring the character concerned and voila. That being said, Scribblenauts is not stingy with content not less than 500 chips Starite collecting the many missions easily occupying about eight hours of association. Mention about the presence of a nice world map which displays all zones (haunted house, city, desert, castle ...) and the number of Starites required to gain access. Starites that, from time to time, are recovered through various mini-games: shoot targets, find the right ingredients to prepare dishes, prepare a man for a tryst etc.. In addition, many people encountered are actually forty (!) Maxwell brothers who once made their goals, allow the player to change your avatar. The change simply shows visual order and does not affect the gameplay. Moreover, as with the previous episodes, the game is a bit like Little Big Planet: it relies less on the presence of a real gameplay on the atmosphere and the creative aspect. An atmosphere that just will not be to everyone's taste including the noise level, the soundtrack is extremely repetitive. French remains a suitable location and during the cutscenes, dubbing into the language of Marion Cotillard quite correct.

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NINJA GAIDEN 3 : RAZOR'S EDGE

Gradually, the Wii U gets large productions available for a year or more on the machines of competitors. After Batman: Arkham City and Mass Effect 3, it is the turn of the adventures of Ryu Hayabusa landed on the new Nintendo console. Say that Ninja Gaiden 3 has disappointed more than one player in March is an understatement. Wanting to rally to his cause those who are considering the beat'em with automatic backups and a lack of real challenge, the title of Team Ninja accumulated too many shortcomings to fully meet the demands of fans. The studio then try to make adjustments with the subtitled Razor's Edge, available since the launch of the console on other continents.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge has the daunting task of repairing mistakes last year: difficulty downgraded compared to older episodes, automated gameplay, the presence of many useless QTY .. . The challenge was not thin and developers to recover their old fans have logically made their way harder. But then, where we would have liked to see a reworked AI, it will just simply tougher enemies. Now, even the opponents base require more hard and some can also self-destruct and take a third of the life bar the way. For even more challenge and see the gang up several privates against the player instead of waiting quietly turn hard mode is required. The reward will be more rewarding, since the level of karma earned aligns the difficulty chosen. Karma, remember, can acquire new skills.

Team Ninja has learned the lesson and offers more than a single katana to put in their mouths, over an adventure that request - normal mode - a dozen hours to complete. Ryu Hayabusa is able to attack with a claw, a scythe or a stick, each weapon with the ability to be improved on three levels. Good news never comes alone, the ninja also has several types of magic Ninpo (Hell, Flying Blades ...) and several fighting techniques (aerial attack against instantaneous regeneration of life, etc.). Enrich the range of shots once unlocked. In addition, the pulpy Ayane entitled by two full chapters with divisions strength and beheadings, a trademark of the saga. In terms of content, this version is therefore intended to be the most comprehensive, one we should have had from the outset to make it short.


GUARANTEED WITH THE SAME DEFECTS

If the title is compatible with the Pro Controller, it is still quite enjoyable to GamePad. Playable only on mablette to allow Ms. watch the latest episode of Mad Men, the game has a good grip and some phases may even enhance immersion. The touch screen is meanwhile office shortcut for the camera, activate the Ninpo magic, change weapons or buy new skills. Nothing folichon well, all these functions are accessible via conventional and directional pad buttons. Oh yes, we almost forgot the basics. In the manner of the Sixaxis for Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, it can bounce opulent breasts during cutscenes shaking mablette: laughter guaranteed when two heroines speak very seriously while their breasts move without reason. However, the enrichment of the formula does not make it unique, however, and the many flaws of the original game are still present in this version Wii U.

The camera is unfortunately too often picked it up, and almost no exploration scenario is extremely disjointed. It follows the characters from Paris, a desert, Antarctica or lost in the Indian Ocean without understanding forest where is the logic in the sequence of places, despite a written agreement between each of the ten chapters summary. Either way, the choice of environments is questionable as the Japanese atmosphere mesmerizing debut has given way to mytho-futuristic sets doubtful. Fortunately, the mid-term, a detour to the hometown hero evokes the period of feudal Japan as appreciated. Ryu, now cut in two helicopters in flight and beheads German shepherd like giant cockroaches via QTE is a bit like the studio: his right arm is inhabited by a mysterious illness, such as a partially eaten Team Ninja inside since the departure of Tomonobu Itagaki. In addition, the effectiveness of the gameplay does not hide the poverty level design and the shameless recycling of enemies throughout the adventure. Visually, the graphics engine shows completely overwhelmed, textures are sad to see and persistent aliasing raging from beginning to end.


MORE NINJASSES

We appreciate the effort on the localization fixes some errors in French, the hits are now translated as "hits" and not by clumsy "fire." You can also rely on ancillary multiplayer modes to fight with other heroines of the Dead or Alive series. Thus, the beautiful priestess Momiji and Kasumi are playable in the Challenge mode, which is aimed first and foremost enthusiasts high score: it is to be fast and efficient on a given level already completed in Story Mode. The results are obviously classified online, the player can compare the results of his efforts with the community. Playable up to eight simultaneously Combat mode Clans calls for his players to change their avatar over the victories won, will customize it to their liking and buy weapons of their choice. It will not forget the shortcomings of solo, but it's still better than nothing.

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Sonic Lost World

After abusing its mascot for years (Sonic-Garou, really?), Sega has returned to a more reasonable pace for gaming platforms Sonic. Two years after Sonic Generations which was not entirely convinced, hedgehog prepares a return on Wii U and 3DS. The game is called Sonic Lost World, and intends to propel the hero of a new galaxy.

Left to book a new game platforms Nintendo Sonic the only machines, so go openly and learn from the Ambassador of the manufacturer, right? This is surely what is going through your head when creative Sega prepared Sonic Lost World who shares a strange resemblance to Super Mario Galaxy. As the plumber, Sonic finds himself floating browse levels in the air can be assimilated to the planets, interconnected by thrusters.

Areas are similar to the geometric shapes (spheres, tubes) thus allowing an increase of the overall structure. However, instead of ending up upside down as Mario on its galaxies, the level that turns on itself. Sonic is always more or less at the point on the screen (although it can run on some vertical walls). This choice is motivated by a factor certainly stupid: Although inspired by the plumber, Sonic does not lose its identity and love for speed. Levels are generally intended to be dévalés at full speed, and the hustle orientation of the character was not very convenient for the understanding of the action at full speed. This does not preclude some follies in the camera sometimes revolves around the character to lend a stress injury. One thinks especially of sequences where the view passes the hedgehog to force him to react like clockwork for any jump.

Whether on Wii U or 3DS, controls incorporate the classic series (spin attack, spin dash, etc..) With one difference: the character shorter permanently. Indeed, if the speed is an important part in the game, Sonic Lost World is not a trip constantly carried balloons background. Base, not Sonic is keyed to that of walking. It will then press a button to make him run! This allows us to explore some levels if the heart tells us to discover some secrets and additional rings. The three sequences playable game at E3 were there to show three levels of varying difficulty. Easy areas were actually very easy to finish but things are racy in the difficult level filled with traps and difficult jumps. This area also showed that the title is not only composed of sections in Mario Galaxy, but also more traditional levels 2.5D, ie crooked path but always with a camera view (think for Pandemonium the oldest of us). This was for example the case of a level to explore along a long piece of licorice in a world of sweets. Rather difficult in certain passages, Sonic Lost World should draw the attention of Sonic fans while the eye less familiar players in the series.

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Wii U : IS SERIOUS DOCTOR?

Ghostly sales, publishers withdrawals starving calendar ... The Wii U, the newest Nintendo wanted to walk in the glorious not the Wii? It is rather in boots Dreamcast it gets stuck.

At present, its future seems compromised. However, the unsinkable firm Kyoto objective reasons to be hopeful, provided it solves a number of problems, some temporary, others deeper.

"THE MOMENT DREAMCAST"

"Nintendo did a chance for the holiday season?", "The Wii U is coming its time Dreamcast", "The Christmas Nintendo is canceled" ... Just like GamesIndustry, a large part of the press gives more expensive the future of the Wii U in the short and medium term. With 3.45 million sold on its first fiscal year against 3.8 out of Europe for the GameCube and 5.84 units for the Wii, the Wii U is the worst since the launch of Nintendo Virtual Boy ... in 1995 . Nothing as bad as it (just 0.8 million), of course, but the firm Kyoto was an installed base of 5.5 million in April 2013, and the account is far from being. "Clearly, we could have done better. We are not in the objectives", openly acknowledges the marketing director of Nintendo France, Anne-Marie Baufine-Ducrocq.

Unfortunately for the company, the disappointing sales of the console seem to get worse. In France, where it represents only 6% of sales in the first five months of the year, it would be passed in June below the level of the PS Vita. In the United States, it has gone to 26,000 units in May, four and a half times less than the PS3 or Xbox 360, and a lower rate, incidentally, the GameCube ten years ago. The situation is not much more encouraging in Japan, with 7,000 small sales charts last week, and the million it should pass painfully during the summer, where two million Wii already circulating on archipelago at the end of six months.


CAUSES IN A MESS

Short, commercial, console the tablet is not far from the flat EEG. And a quick vox pop in the aisles of the Japan Expo last week, admittedly unscientific, still allowed to the extent of its problems: a twenty visitors interviewed on the fly on the Nintendo booth, not one provided with certainty to buy at Christmas. To the question: "What is the probability that you équipiez in Wii U by the end of the year?", 20% answered: "one in ten", and a good third, "no." And this is not Pikmin 3 latest episode of a series to confidential across the brand, which should upset gives sales.

A situation as alarming, Nintendo had no more long known. Even the slow start of the 3DS had not lasted much or inspired as much concern. The causes of this situation are however not new. They were predictable from the announcement rickety machine in May 2011. But they are plural. Some are purely cyclical, others deeper. More than the policy of third-party publishers, this is Nintendo's ability to solve that will determine the future of the console.


SOON, THE GAMES

The lack of games is a first. After a first Christmas quantitatively loaded, but also devoid of titles as Wii Sports Ambassador in 2006, the Wii U desperately short after a catalog. But Nintendo did little to eat, as he had splint for a year and a half on 3DS. After more than six months without a major release, the Japanese consolier has coyly admitted via the voice of Shigeru Miyamoto that many games had initially planned to launch accumulated up to six months late, the fault of a very different environment for the development of the Wii .

This handicap then, Nintendo did fortunately not long drag. The second part of the year looks indeed more nourished, between The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Super Mario 3D World, Sonic Lost Worlds, Rayman Legends or Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. And if one relies on the old adage that it is the games that make the consoles, then 8 and Mario Kart Super Smash Bros. indisputable system-sellers, 2014 could even be that the Wii U.

Another economic problem is price. A 349 euros - considering the Premium package, which concentrated about 80% of sales - the newest Nintendo costs 100 euros more expensive than its big sister the launch. Too, perhaps, for a rarely used to pay its Nintendo over 300 euros customer. As we says Jeremy, one of the few owners of the first day met at the Japan Expo. "I took advantage of the collapse of Game to buy 230 euros instead of 400 Otherwise, I would have waited even Christmas 2014" . Distributors did not make a mistake by passing its price to € 329 for most, hoping to sell the unsold inventory.

Having experienced in 2011 its first fiscal deficit in more than three decades, the firm Kyoto obviously would take a dim view of having to make additional financial sacrifices to help the console to sell, and even Iwata recently stated that no such action was planned. But the near prospect of competition from the PlayStation 4 to $ 399 / euro could encourage Nintendo to act. If lower official price there, the firm Kyoto wait the last minute to communicate it. That the 3DS was announced in late July, for implementation in mid-August, with the release of the most off-peak.


THE STRANGE CONCEPT SPATULETTE

Deeper, Nintendo is facing structural issues. The first is the Wii U itself. The company may change the game, prices, or color, it will not return to its concept. But it seems born of a double unfortunate calculation. On the one hand, Nintendo has tried - in his own way - to enjoy the emergence of tablet market to offer a product two-in-one. The consolier has figured that the combination of a gaming machine and a simulated tablet for less than 350 euros would be a sufficiently attractive offer to attract a wider audience to the point of integrating a YouTube channel to the famous mablette. But the large lever was further seen as an extra cost than a capital gain.


At the same time, Nintendo has tried to capitalize on the success of the Wii. The company adopted the levers, line graph, communication, part of the technology, to name itself. Result, many potential buyers have believed, wrongly, that there was only one device or an extension. As for those who have understood the principle of the Wii U, they have not necessarily been convinced by the need to exchange their old Wii for the new machine to the amazing growth.

There is an insidious way of summarizing the problem of Nintendo: the return of the comparison with the scraper device. There are six and a half years, the world plébiscitait this awesome user-friendly, doomed to spend three out of four seasons in the closet, but alone can save an evening with friends. 120 million units later, the Kyoto firm is faced with a new situation. Sell ​​a new console players, boasting its superior power, its developed network architecture, or its innovative multimedia features, the three manufacturers can do. But selling a new raclette someone who already has one, it was dated 2006? "I use my Wii as interactive board game when I get friends," summed Damien, at the end of a party Wii U Party at the Japan Expo. "It's fine with me, I do not need the same HD. Ultimately, why change?". Tefal SEB and may know the answer, but obviously, not Nintendo, and the gain to invest in a giant spatula touch screen does not seem to have been well understood.


RIP "GAMEPLAY ASYMMETRIC"

"Unlike the Wii had a very visual technology break" tempers Anne-Marie Baufin-Ducrocq, "the Wii U has a strong but less visual technology, which requires a lot of explaining much longer." Cumbersome, unintuitive, expensive to produce and difficult to sell, the Wii U is it now the worst enemy of the Wii U? To sell its latest console, Nintendo has no choice but to change their line of communication, that the company has begun to do.

The stereoscopic display of the 3DS, who had served more than anything else, Nintendo did not hesitate to upstage. Without abandon, without hiding. Just stopping to communicate it, and refocusing its editorial policy on its traditional licenses, turning the 3DS Super single DS. And this is what the company is now trying to do with the Wii U. In the speech, the concept of asymmetric gameplay has completely disappeared from circulation, Iwata admitted having "learned that the term does not explain fully the interests of consumers GamePad". And in fact, the concept is now visited portioned (U Wii Party, which oscillates between minigame iPad depressing and hilarious game company) or grotesque (the screen used to honk in Mario Kart 8). In turn, the Wii U turns into Super Wii.


FOR THE WII U WII 2

Set aside the original console and release games that do sell, so it is now the main focus of the Wii U. In the context of scattering of casual gamers, Iwata explained by a strategy of reclaiming traditional players. "With the Wii, Wii Sports when spread throughout the world at a sensational speed, some have mistakenly believed that the Wii just used to play in moving the handle", detailing it in late June with investors. "With the Wii U, so we planned to meet in a first-time fans of existing video games, and bring surprises later.".


The policy of zero surprise, Nintendo has taken particularly at E3. With the exception of the iconic Pikmin and Zelda, all games presented belong to the most sellers of the brand licenses. Whether Wii Fit (42 million units to date), Mario Kart (34 million), New Super Mario Bros. (28 M) or Smash Bros (11.5 million), the biggest commercial success of the Wii are all already announced or released on Wii U. Will convince a huge number of undecided, like Theo, met near the terminal Wind Waker HD: "I'm a fan of Nintendo, for now I stand, but when Super Smash Bros. lot, I must crack ". In fact, most vendors the company licenses, only Wii Sports (82 million), Super Mario Galaxy (12 million) are missing, but with Wii U Party and Super Mario 3D Land, it is not as if the company did not try to capitalize on them in one way or another. To the chagrin of fans of Metroid, Star Fox and F-Zero, Big N favors the rapid expansion of its installed base.

PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN QUESTION

But the second structural problem of the firm, it is precisely its ability to produce games, challenged by the rise almost simultaneously power two lines console. Random business cycles - long for the DS, short for Wii - their respective successors have indeed launched only a year and a half apart, even though the transition to HD has led to inevitable increase in staff and development time. But in both cases, Nintendo is facing an imperative: supply quickly and massively both consoles games. This impossible equation touches in the production of the company. New Super Luigi U variant of New Super Mario existing U, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, which shows the overworld A Link to The Past, or The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD reissue 16 / th and 1080p GameCube game, testify in their own way of optimizing resources that Nintendo has no other choice but to compel.

Fortunately, the company did not wait for 2013 to diagnose these production problems. In March 2011, it announced the construction of a new building with a capacity of 1500 people next to its headquarters in Kyoto. Objective: to welcome new staff, and in the medium term, simply double the number of employees at its headquarters! At the same time, as recently revealed Miyamoto, the young antenna EAD Tokyo, founded in 2003, is now moving towards a role of control of all production outsourced to external studios Nintendo (Retro Studios, Platinum Games, Mistwalker ...), or delivered in partnership with the firm. It will nevertheless time, probably several years, so that these investments are paying off.


EDITORS INTERESTED IN THESE SUCCESS


Meanwhile improve its production capacity, Nintendo will rely on the support of hypothetical third-party publishers. As reported GamesIndustry, it has never seemed so uncertain. Last spring, Electronic Arts said he had no project on Wii U. Ubisoft has broken exclusive Rayman Legends after the very disappointing sales Zombie U. Activision and no longer feeds the console in a targeted manner. The temptation is great to see it the first signs of abandoning ship. In fact, the EA decision is more anecdotal than anything else: the editor has never been one of the major players in the Wii, on which he failed to clear a path to the image a late Bloombox and unnoticed. And in fact, his withdrawal from the console reveals more of its current financial problems, and a desire to minimize risk-taking, rather than lack of a future for the Wii U, many publishers would view favorably the success.

This is the case of three of them, Ubisoft, Activision and Sega, with Just Dance, Skylanders and Mario & Sonic, three licenses on which their respective publishers have managed to capitalize. They require relatively small development budgets, and their potential audience in the millions or tens of millions of people. Second most successful Ubisoft over the last decade, the Just Dance series has sold over 40 million copies. Mario & Sonic is 20 million Wii. As for Skylanders on its first 15 months on the market, it generated 100 million and sales figures reported $ 1 billion Activision-Blizzard! A Ubisoft, Activision and Sega adds Disney, which has great ambitions for its Disney Universe. As strategic support for Nintendo, the console has never seemed so close to a huge theme park.

NINTENDO HYDRA TO TWO HEADS

In the end, Nintendo, and this is its strength, has in its DNA similar to both Apple and Disney axial genes. Like the first, it has the sense of innovation and an obsession with risk taking. This earned him some of his greatest hits - the GameBoy, DS, Wii. But as Apple in its black decade, it also happens to be missing. The Virtual Boy is the most famous example. However, unlike the firm at the apple, Nintendo is also a content company, with its games, its world and its characters. When the GameCube and 3DS have floundered, Nintendo rocked a gene to another. That's what she tries again with the Wii U, now selling less than a hardware licenses. In 2006, Nintendo was appleoïde, in 2013, it is again disneyienne.


This umpteenth molting should reassure the industry. As for loving gamers Nintendo cupertinien: patience, whispers the firm. "This year we really wanted to show games, a catalog will be ready in the coming months," insists Anne-Marie Baufin-Ducrocq. "This does not mean that there is no crazy experiments in cartons, or that innovation is not in the DNA of the company." In a recent exchange with investors, Satoru Iwata has also clarified that the E3, the company had not made any plans for 2014, but had focused on traditional licenses. And to maximize the surprise of their future innovative products. Nintendo is certain, often seems to lose his head. But like a hydra, it has two, and they repel each time.

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