14 DAY TRIAL // One of the leaders of hardware and software maker Nintendo has stated that piracy is not the only culprit for the fall in video game sales for the Nintendo DS family of devices, while also acknowledging that the company is trying to eliminate the phenomenon on the new 3DS device.
Satoru Iwata, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Nintendo, has told investors that, “Even with piracy, as long as we can create products which can attract attention from many consumers and which can greatly entertain them, that software can make it to the number one position of the hit software sales chart.”
He added, “we would like to consider it from both perspectives simultaneously. It is true there is always the influence of piracy, but it is important for us to increase the number of our consumers who are willing to shell out their money to purchase our products.”
The statements come after a series of announcements linked to the upcoming Nintendo 2DS handheld which suggest that the company might be trying harder to eliminate piracy, with the most important feature being the device's ability to download and then install firmware updates even in sleep mode, without any input from the user, as long as its near a Wi Fi connection.
Examples of good games selling a lot of copies include the recently out in Japan Pokemon Black and White, the fifth generation of titles featuring the well known characters, which managed to sell more than 2.6 million units in just one weekened and Super Mario Galaxy 2, which has gone past the 4 million units sold mark worldwide.
The Nintendo 3DS has an official launch date of February 22, 2011 in Japan, with a price tag of 25,000 Yen.
The device's main new feature is its ability to deliver full three dimensional gaming experiences like a new Metal Gear Solid or a new Zelda without using any specialized glasses.