Nintendo Doesn't Want to Work with ‘Garage Developers’

Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that the company doesn't want to work with so-called "garage developers" but does want to attract independent game designers onto its platforms.

Mobile gaming platforms like smartphones, including the iPhone or various Android-powered handsets, are providing a great entry for small, independent developers to get noticed and become popular, with Rovio's Angry Birds being the most recent success story.

Nintendo doesn't want to pursue such developers, however, as the company, while aiming to become more accessible for independent designers, doesn't want to open its platforms to all sorts of low quality experiences.

"I would separate out the true independent developer vs. the hobbyist," said Fils-Aime during an interview with Gamasutra. "We are absolutely reaching out to the independent developer," he stipulated. "Where we've drawn the line is we are not looking to do business today with the garage developer. In our view, that's not a business we want to pursue."

Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata stated recently that games for mobile platforms priced at $1 or even released for free are degrading the value of game software and getting customers used to cheap experiences.

As you can imagine, the Japanese game company doesn't want people indulging in lots of lower-priced titles, but in fewer, higher priced ones, like the $40 games for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS.

Nintendo does want its platforms, specifically the new 3DS handheld, to become more popular with third-party developers. Current devices like the Wii or DS aren't all that attractive to other companies besides Nintendo, which results in publishers like EA or Activision avoiding the platforms despite their impressive sales numbers.

The 3DS, however, is set to be supported by quite a lot of companies, but we'll see how they fair after its release later this week in Europe and North America.