Super Mario Run
GameBy Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · Released Dec 15, 2016
Documents about Super Mario Run
2017 Predictions for Mobile Gaming
Eric Seufert's January 2017 outlook on mobile gaming reviews the prior year and offers predictions for the year ahead, framed by Newzoo's estimate that global smartphone and tablet game revenues would rise from $36.9BN in 2016 to $42.5BN in 2017.
- Global mobile gaming revenue is projected to reach $42.5 billion in 2017, an increase from $36.9 billion in 2016.
- The mobile publishing model is expected to shift away from traditional, punitive arrangements toward comprehensive, mobile-first support focused on user acquisition, analytics, and live operations.
- Zynga is positioned for potential acquisitions in 2017, supported by a strong balance sheet with $1 billion in current assets and a $200 million stock buyback program.
92% of iOS Games Released Last Quarter Were Free, Up From 55% in 2012
Premium pricing has become a rarity on the iOS App Store, and Nintendo's decision to charge $9.99 for Super Mario Run places it in an increasingly small minority.
- As of Q3 2016, 92% of all new iOS games are free-to-play, a significant shift from 2012 when free and paid games were nearly equal at 56% and 44% respectively.
- The volume of free iOS games released per quarter has surged from approximately 4,900 in Q1 2012 to roughly 63,000 in Q3 2016.
- The number of paid games released per quarter has remained stagnant, averaging approximately 5,400 throughout the 2012–2016 period.
Semi-Annual Financial Results Briefing: Fiscal Year Ending March 2017
Nintendo’s financial performance for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2017 reflects a strategic transition period defined by the decline of legacy hardware and the cultivation of new growth vectors.
- Nintendo is preparing for the global launch of the Nintendo Switch in March 2017, with an initial shipment target of two million units.
- The company is executing a dual-track strategy to bridge the gap between legacy hardware and the Switch, focusing on 3DS software, the NES Classic Edition, and mobile expansion.
- Nintendo is aggressively entering the smart device market with the launch of Super Mario Run to maintain consumer engagement during the hardware transition.
Consolidated Results for the Six Months Ended September 2015 and 2016
Nintendo’s consolidated financial results for the six-month periods ending September 30, 2015, and September 30, 2016, reveal a period of significant operational transition and currency-driven volatility.
- Nintendo reported a 33% decline in net sales to 136.8 billion yen for the six months ending September 30, 2016, resulting in an operating loss of 5.9 billion yen.
- A 62.7 billion yen extraordinary gain from the partial sale of the Seattle Mariners enabled the company to report a net profit of 38.2 billion yen despite operational losses.
- Foreign exchange volatility significantly impacted results, with a strengthening yen contributing to 39.9 billion yen in losses.
Nintendo’s Mobile Mario Game: Three Questions
Nintendo's announcement of Super Mario Run at Apple's September 2016 iPhone 7 event is examined as a case study in mobile monetization strategy and App Store merchandising.
- Nintendo announced the upcoming mobile game Super Mario Run, developed in collaboration with DeNA, with an initial release scheduled for the iOS App Store in December 2016.
- Industry analyst Dr. Serkan Toto has estimated that Super Mario Run could reach 1.5 billion downloads.
- The game utilizes a 'free-to-download' model with a hard content gate, requiring users to pay to unlock the full game experience rather than using traditional free-to-play mechanics.
Companies behind it
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