WIRE REPORTS

Prepare For The Arrival Of The Last Story Exclusively On Wii Spong You can visit the official website for The Last Story at http://www.nintendo.co.uk/laststory. The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for ... and more » Wall Street Journal (blog) Japan Power List: Stringer Swan Song Wall Street Journal (blog) s Carlos Ghosn as the second-biggest headline generator (Mr. Ghosn is a regular in the top three), and Nintendo Co.'s Kazuo Inamori at number three. A prediction for the next monthly update on list, due March 5? With all eyes focusing on how exactly ... THQ shares drop 30% after analyst cites a 'liquidity crisis' Los Angeles Times About 44% of THQ's games were made for Nintendo Co.'s Wii console, which has seen two years of declining sales as consumers opt for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 and Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3. Those consoles play games in high-definition and offer online ... and more » How the Video Games Industry Is Faring ABC News 26: Nintendo Co. reports a loss during the last nine months of 2011 (it didn't break out quarterly figures). Factors included a price cut for its 3DS handheld, a strong yen that erodes overseas earnings and competition from mobile devices such as the ... and more » ALJ Bullock rules on supplemental expert report motions in Certain Video Game ... Lexology (registration) By way of background, this investigation was instituted on April 20, 2011 based on CK's complaint alleging a violation of Section 337 by Respondents Nintendo of America, Inc. and Nintendo Co., Ltd. (collectively, ?Nintendo?) for the importation into ... and more » Break Thru Films Brings The Award Winning 3D Animation Movie Magic Piano To ... PR Web (press release) The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii? home console, Nintendo 3DS? and Nintendo DS? family of portable systems. and more » How the video games industry is faring CBS News 26: Nintendo Co. reports a loss during the last nine months of 2011 (it didn't break out quarterly figures). Factors included a price cut for its 3DS handheld, a strong yen that erodes overseas earnings and competition from mobile devices such as the ... and more » A look at results from selected companies in the video games business Washington Post 26: Nintendo Co. reports a loss during the last nine months of 2011 (it didn't break out quarterly figures). Factors included a price cut for its 3DS handheld, a strong yen that erodes overseas earnings and competition from mobile devices such as the ... and more » Nintendo Zone Adds Pokémon Episodes and Game Demos EON: Enhanced Online News (press release) About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii ? home console, Nintendo 3DS ? and Nintendo DS ? family of portable ... and more »

DAILY REPORTS

Feb 6 Japan's once powerful industries are now crumbling Within the Japanese business community there are whispers of a sense of paralysis or "hopelessness", and the fear that if decisive action is not taken, some of the companies that were the engine for Japan's postwar growth could fall into irreversible decline. "Japanese companies cannot keep doing what they have been doing," says Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder of e-commerce giant Rakuten, equivalent to the Japanese version of Amazon.com The country's electronics sector has been hit by the success of South Korea's Samsung and LG, which assemble products in lower-cost countries such as China, Indonesia and Thailand. There have also been lack of ambitions since the bubble burst, for instance, Japan already had web-surfing handsets nearly a decade before the iPhone, yet local producers failed to tap overseas markets. Japanese electronics giant NEC has just announced it would cut 10,000 jobs as it projected to lose more than a billion dollars (100 billion yen) for the fiscal year ending this March. Gaming giant Nintendo unnerved investors by reporting a US$838 million losses (its original projection was $260 million losses), the worst year since it began making games 30 years ago. (zimbabwemetro.com) Jan 31 Despite first loss in 30 years, Nintendo is still a contender Late last month, Nintendo signaled that for the first time in more than 30 years it was posting an annual loss - of $845 million - something that until recently had seemed virtually impossible. For three decades, Nintendo has been the company people associate with video games. And during the last few years, Nintendo expanded that notion to a wider audience than ever before with risky and innovative game machines, such as the Nintendo DS and the Wii. So, what has changed? Why are things suddenly difficult for the iconic game company? During these past 30 years Nintendo has basically held a winning lottery ticket, which paid off year by year. (Japan Times) Jan 27 Nintendo chief promises to do Wii U launch right Nintendo's chief is determined to get right the launch of its next game machine, Wii U, set for this year's holiday shopping season, and acknowledged Friday some mistakes with selling its 3DS handheld. But Nintendo Co. President Satoru Iwata warned earnings for the fiscal year set to begin April will be the toughest ever for the Japanese manufacturer behind the Super Mario and Pokemon games. Iwata's remarks come a day after it lowered its annual earnings forecast to a 65 billion yen ($844 million) loss, much larger than the 20 billion yen ($260 million) loss projected earlier. It posted a 77.62 billion yen profit the previous fiscal year. (AP) Dec 30 Sony PlayStation Vita sales fall sharply after Japanese launch Sales of the PlayStation Vita have fallen by nearly 80 percent during the week that ended on December 25 according to tracking firm Media Create. Sony sold approximately 325,000 Vita units on December 17 and 18, but only sold about 10,000 units a day during the following week. Sales of the PlayStation Portable beat sales of the PlayStation Vita by approximately 25,000 units. In addition, Nintendo saw massive sales of the 3DS during the same week and nearly sold half a million units. That pushes Nintendo over four million units sold for the entire year, a fact that Nintendo officials mentioned in a recent press release. (Digital Trends) Dec 18 PS Vita challenges smartphones The world of computer games has entered a new kind of war, with Sony releasing on Saturday a handheld gaming device with increased network functionality in a bid to compete with popular smartphone games. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. on Saturday released its PlayStation Vita handheld video game console, which allows users to play with anyone in the world using cell phone lines. For many years, competition in the video game industry was primarily between Sony's computer game division and game giant Nintendo Co. However the proliferation of smartphones led to a rapid increase in the popularity of game software for mobile phones. As a result, competition between game producers to recruit talented developers is heating up. (Yomiuri) Dec 17 Sony's PlayStation Vita hits stores in Japan Sony's long-awaited PlayStation Vita portable game machine has hit stores in Japan as thousands of game enthusiasts lined up at shops from early in the morning. Sony is predicting brisk sales, even though Saturday's launch may have missed some holiday shoppers. A successful debut would help the company offset the rest of its struggling business. The device is a touch-interface and motion-sensitive handheld seen as a successor to the PlayStation Portable. Vita's launch will heat up competition with rival Nintendo Co.'s 3DS. (AP) Dec 15 Sony Gears Up For PlayStation Vita's Japan Launch Sony's long-awaited PlayStation Vita portable game machine hits stores in Japan on Saturday with the company predicting brisk sales even though the launch has missed much of the holiday shopping season. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. President Andrew House told reporters Thursday that enthusiasm among gamers could lead to some shortages at first. But he said the company can meet demand after the initial surge of buyers. The PS Vita goes on sale in North America and Europe on Feb. 22. The device is a touch-interface and motion-sensitive handheld that Sony hopes will be a strong successor to the PlayStation Portable. House touted the Vita's advantages over rival Nintendo Co.'s 3DS, which had a disappointing start. (salon.com) Dec 7 Nintendo: 3DS gets boost from Mario, at least in Japan Sales of Nintendo Co Ltd's 3DS games device will hit 3 million units in the Japanese market within days, but consumers in the U.S. and Europe seem to be delaying their holiday season shopping due to poor economic conditions, the company said. Nintendo slashed the price of the 3DS by about 40 percent in August and announced a flood of new software, including titles in the much loved Mario series, in a bid to prop up sales of the gadget, which had slumped soon after its February launch. As a result, the Kyoto-based firm expects to sell 4 million of the machines in Japan within the first year, compared with a worldwide target of 16 million units by March 2012. (Reuters) Nov 17 3DS still way out in front in Japan Nintendo sold another 100,000 3DS units in Japan during the week ended November 13 to top the hardware chart. Click to view larger image While the total was down from 145,271 units the previous week, it was still higher than the combined sales of all other platforms. 3DS's closest rivals, PSP and PS3, shifted 23,472 units and 22,919 respectively, while DSi LL sales came in at 1,751 units, around 200 units ahead of Xbox 360, with the PS2 about the same distance behind Microsoft's console. On the software front, PSP rhythm action game Hatsune Miku Project Diva Extend debuted at No.1. (computerandvideogames.com) Nov 15 Japan Stocks Fall as Turnover at Year's Lowest on Europe Concern Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell for the first time in three days as Italian borrowing costs surged, reigniting concern Europe's debt crisis is spreading and damping the earnings outlook for Asian exporters. Turnover on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was the lowest this year. Nintendo Co., a game maker that gets more than 40 percent of sales in Europe, sank 2.5 percent. Elpida Memory Inc., Japan's biggest maker of computer memory chips, sank 9.1 percent amid low prices for memory devices. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., the country's second-biggest bank by market value, gained 1.4 percent after raising its profit forecast. Olympus Corp. surged by its daily limit for a second day after a report the scandal-hit company may avoid delisting. (BusinessWeek) Nov 12 Your web window into Japan's wild, sexy, and scary side Another night. Mahni Aino fired up her computer and flipped on her camera. The sexy posing would come later, but now she was just talking about what food she liked cooking. Comments streamed across the screen, like "You're so cute" and, even, "Do you use a Dell PC?" Then, she started doing yoga on a sofa, which involved her taking off her black stockings. Mahni smiled. Aino's channel would get a little more revealing in a bit, but it's still somewhat tame-nothing more than what one would see on MTV these days. On other channels, things have gotten downright crazy, with folks running amuck, breaking the law and putting themselves in harm's way. Elsewhere, stuff is way dull, with people streaming docile conversations about video games. Then, there are corporate powerhouses, like Nintendo and Sony, connecting with gamers. Welcome to the world of Nico Nico Live, an online streaming service that's loved by idols, attention seekers, and, yes, Japan Inc. (Kotaku) Oct 31 Japan Inc. struggles with yen rise, Thai floods Japan's biggest corporations are facing an ever tougher fight to keep up with their nimble Asian rivals as the soaring yen and Thai flooding hit manufacturers already battling consumer gloom in Europe and the United States. From Nintendo to Panasonic, Sony and Honda, Japan Inc. is struggling to fend off competition from the likes of Samsung and Hyundai, which have been steadily nipping at their heels, as the soaring yen and supply disruptions undermine their recovery attempts. Even after a slide in the value of the yen triggered by what appeared to be another round of government intervention on Monday, the Japanese currency stood at about 79.2 yen against the dollar, after a relentless rise from more manageable levels of about 100 yen three years earlier. (Reuters) Oct 27 Nintendo's losses grow, slashes forecast Japanese game maker Nintendo Co. said Thursday its net loss grew to 70.3 billion yen ($925 million) for the six months through September, battered by the strong yen and weak software sales. The maker of the Wii game console and DS handheld slashed its forecast for the full year through next March to a 20 billion yen ($263 million) net loss, it said in a statement. In July, it had predicted an annual net profit of 20 billion yen. Nintendo, which scored success by courting casual gamers, is now battling increased competition from Apple Inc.'s iPhone and other devices that offer simple games. (AP) Oct 5 Japan companies on shopping spree with strong yen Rakuten is not just the top shopping website in Japan. These days the company is doing some serious shopping of its own as it turns the strong yen - usually seen as a huge negative for Japanese companies - into a plus. The online shopping mall operator has bought several overseas businesses in the last year and is not the only Japanese company on an acquisition spree. Businesses from pharmaceutical companies to toy makers have been emboldened by the increased purchasing power that the rising yen gives them. A strong yen has long been characterized as potentially fatal for Japan Inc. by making the country's cars, consumer electronics and other goods more expensive abroad, eating into the earnings of giant exporters like Toyota Motor Corp., Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. (AP) Sep 28 Nikkei closes flat on concern over global economy The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 5.70 points, or 0. 07 percent, from Tuesday at 8,615.65, following a 2.82 percent rise the previous day. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished up 5.52 points, or 0.74 percent, at 754.07. The consumer finance sector led the gainers, and was followed by the real estate and metal products sectors. Among the decliners were the miscellaneous products sector that includes games giant Nintendo and the air transport sector. (Xinhua) Sep 22 After a rocky start, the Nintendo 3DS is tops in Japan Nintendo President Satoru Iwata must be breathing a sigh of relief. After a tough start for the Nintendo 3DS, the handheld hardware is showing steady growth, and is currently the most purchased piece of gaming hardware in Japan. Following the release of the 3DS in Japan, the sales were encouraging. The device sold out 400,000 units, and despite slow software sales, things were looking good. Then the sales flatlined and it soon became apparent that longtime Nintendo fans were willing to try the new hardware, but it was not reaching the wider audiences that Nintendo had hoped for. So then came the price cuts. (Digital Trends) Sep 13 Nintendo seeks to rev up 3DS with holiday games Nintendo is readying an array of video games for the holidays in an aggressive attempt at catch-up for lost time from the sales delay of the 3DS portable machine last year. Nintendo Co., which makes the Wii home console and Super Mario and Pokemon games, showed some of the gaming titles featuring glasses-free three-dimensional technology at a packed Tokyo event hall Tuesday. The year-end holidays and the New Year's gift-giving season will be a key test for the 3DS portable. Game companies make up more than half their annual sales during those months. (AP) Sep 12 Tokyo Game Show to highlight rise of social games In a world of booming smartphones and tablets, social game providers will take the spotlight at the Tokyo Game Show this week, while champion Nintendo, criticized for being too centered on hardware, struggles to win back fans. As sales of conventional games sputter, Japanese mobile social gaming company Gree and rival DeNA are seen well placed to benefit in the local market, given their success with previous generation feature phones. Gree marks its debut at Japan's annual game show, which runs from September 15-18 this year, with one of the largest booths. (Reuters) Sep 6 With the rise of smartphones, Nintendo faces a grim future There was a time when Nintendo could do no wrong, when everything the Kyoto-based game maker touched turned to gold. That time is over - and has been for some time. However, that doesn't mean you should count them out. Earlier this year, Nintendo released the 3DS, a 3D glasses-free portable gaming system. The company is also preparing to release a new home console, the Wii U. But both consoles have to overcome a huge obstacle - Nintendo's previous success. (Japan Times) Sep 6 'Dragon Quest X' set for 2012 release Game developer Square Enix Co. has announced it will release a new title in its wildly popular Dragon Quest series in 2012. "Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Online" (subtitle meaning "five awakened tribes") is the first version of the series that allows users to play with others online, according to the company. The game will be made for Nintendo Co.'s home game console Wii, and its successor model Wii U, which will go on sale next year, while the price and exact release date for the software have yet to be announced. (Japan Times) Sep 5 Developers of social network games plan rapid forays abroad Developers of a new genre of online games played on mobile phones via social networking sites are enjoying rapid growth here, with the creators looking to expand into overseas markets. The games are free of charge and further features can be purchased, a business model that differs from console-based gaming, which requires that players buy the hardware and software first. Developers of software for such popular consoles as the Nintendo DS and PlayStation are making inroads into the social network gaming market, where domestic sales in 2010 grew 4.4-fold over the previous year to ¥112 billion, according to data from game magazine publisher Enterbrain Inc. (Japan Times) Aug 23 Nikkei rises over 1 pct, domestic-demand stocks shine The Nikkei average rose more than 1 percent on Tuesday, rebounding from a sharp drop the previous day, as appetite for domestic-demand shares such as food makers and paper firms offset concerns about the economies of key export markets and the impact of a strong yen. Nintendo surged more than 8 percent after the company indicated it would hold a trade show for its 3DS handheld device next month in Tokyo, triggering speculation that it would take steps to shore up sales of the device. (Reuters) Aug 19 Japanese retailers says sayonora to the Xbox 360 The land of the rising sun has been a forbidding and inhospitable place for Microsoft's gaming console. Despite solid sales elsewhere around the world, the Xbox 360 never really caught on in Japan, and both Sony and Nintendo crushed the gaijin console. To put it in perspective, the Wii has sold 11.74 million units in Japan and the PS3 has sold 6.85-compared to the American totals for each system, those numbers might seem low, but they are sold for Japan. By comparison, the 360 has sold a meager 1.52 million units since 2005. Hardware sales in general are struggling in Japan, but none so much as the 360. According to Next-gen.biz, Japan's largest gaming store, Geo, has announced that it is the latest Japanese retailer to phase out the majority of its Xbox 360 items. Beginning immediately, the majority of its stores will sell off all current stock of hardware and software at deeply discounted prices. Xbox 360 products will still be available in select locations and online, but the majority of stock will soon hit the bargain bin. (Digital Trends) Aug 17 Nintendo 3DS sales explode to 215,000 following Japanese price drop The Nintendo 3DS is back at the top of the sales charts in Japan. Though sales of the handheld dropped 50 percent after Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced a major price drop for the system, the 3DS's first week at its newly reduced price of 15,000 yen (down from 25,000 yen, or $250 to $170 in U.S. currency) has been quite fruitful. The handheld has sold about 215,000 units between August 8 and 14. The price cut took effect on August 11, but many retailers discounted the handheld days earlier to spur sales. (Digital Trends) Aug 11 Nintendo should make iPhone games, investors say In "Super Mario 3D Land," Nintendo Co. will make its iconic Italian plumber battle turtle-like Koopa Troopas on its 3-D player. The company instead should develop titles for Apple's iPhone, investors say. The rift highlights the dilemma President Satoru Iwata faces as consumers shun Nintendo devices to play games on iPhones, iPads and Facebook Inc.'s website. The flop of the 3DS debut prompted the company to slash prices 40 percent in Japan starting Wednesday, the first time the games developer has resorted to such a move within six months of a product's debut. (San Francisco Chronicle) [ More... ]