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Reggie Fils-Aime: Cheap Mobile Games Are "Disposable From A Consumer Standpoint"

News

by Dan Ryckert on February 08, 2011 at 04:04 PM

6,540 Views

Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime wants you to know that "full-fledged" portable titles on 3DS are an entirely different beast than cheap iPhone games. During an interview with Geoff Keighley on GameTrailers TV, the Nintendo exec defended the $35-45 price range of 3DS games while simultaneously knocking mobile games, saying "some of those are actually overpriced at $1 or $2."

"One of the biggest risks today in our gaming industry are these inexpensive games that are candidly disposable from a consumer standpoint," said Fils-Aime. When asked about Angry Birds, he responded "Angry Birds is a great piece of experience, but that is one compared to thousands of other pieces of content that for one or two dollars I think create a mentality for the consumer that a piece of gaming content should only be $2."

With cheap games like Angry Birds raking in the money at such a low price point, Reggie's clearly in a position where he has to justify the higher cost of 3DS games. With its March 27th release date rapidly approaching, it won't be long until we find out if people are still willing to fork over more cash for bigger games.

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Filed under: News, Nintendo, iPhone, 3ds, Angry Birds, reggie

Comments

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by Farrell Maniac Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:13 PM

The words of an ignorant man.
by Todd Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:17 PM

It depends on what your getting, stuff like a flashlight app probably is over priced at $1. there are way too many variables, and it sucks that most of the app store games do suck.
by Zeco Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:27 PM

You know hes 100% right, most mobile games are not worth the 1-2$. Sure Angry Birds is fantastic but thats basically one in a million on the App Store. For every amazing game we get in the app store (Like Dead Space.) We get about one thousand crappy games I wouldn't even spend 2 minutes on, much less actual money.

I mean seriously, when the quality of your game can be compared to free flash games on the internet, you're doing something very wrong.

If 2$ crappy internet flash games are where handheld gaming is headed, count me out
by Chris Moss Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:30 PM

I still don't understand why everyone loves Angry Birds so much. Isn't it just a remake, of a remake, of a remake, of a remake, etc. of a slingshot based physics game, with cartoon graphics?
by Chris Moss Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:32 PM

I still don't understand why everyone loves Angry Birds so much. Isn't it just a remake, of a remake, of a remake, of a remake, etc. of a slingshot based physics game, with cartoon graphics?
by iruhlman Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:34 PM

Reggie is so full of fail lately. Like I said, grandma & grandpa stopped playing Wii Bowling about 2 years ago. Funny angry birds is going to the DS. lmao
by Torn Pr1nc3 Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:34 PM

I really don't see how he defended the $35-45 price range. If anything, he probably just helped a lot of people who were on the fence about picking this up make up their minds not to. I see there being a difference in price of the regular DS games, but upwards of $50 for a handheld game is way too high, I don't care what the title is.
by iruhlman Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:35 PM

Reggie is so full of fail lately. Like I said, grandma & grandpa stopped playing Wii Bowling about 2 years ago. Funny angry birds is going to the DS. lmao
by Saturos07 Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:38 PM

Well said Reggie, you get what you pay for.
by Kyledk05 Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:38 PM

I'm not sure exactly what he says here, but I definitely agree with him saying that consumers might be getting a dangerous mentality that games should be only $2.
by Jake Kemper Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 04:55 PM

I still play Angry Birds...so eat it.
by Hut Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:00 PM

I really don't have a problem paying 35 to 45 dollars for a 3DS game.
by Hut Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:00 PM

I really don't have a problem paying 35 to 45 dollars for a 3DS game.
by Agile1 Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:01 PM

With the 3DS you're going to be paying more for a more developed & licensed product. Sure mobile games are more of a risk, but they don't have a lot of the licensing cost that 3DS games go through. I mean, if you follow the wisdom of crowds concept, mobile gaming (based on volume & originality) is a greatly superior product . . . of course, Reggie's getting paid by the other guys.
by Agile1 Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:02 PM

With the 3DS you're going to be paying more for a more developed & licensed product. Sure mobile games are more of a risk, but they don't have a lot of the licensing cost that 3DS games go through. I mean, if you follow the wisdom of crowds concept, mobile gaming (based on volume & originality) is a greatly superior product . . . of course, Reggie's getting paid by the other guys.
by Eyros Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:12 PM

As someone who abstains from mobile gaming for the most part, I should probably hold my tongue... but I can't help but laugh a bit on the inside at this. To voice doubt in your audience, that they would be so easily misguided about the value of a dollar, just seems a bit... condescending?
by Another Matthew Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:23 PM

I just want to play star fox,mario and metroid,zelda on my 3ds and others(im not worried on the price cause gamestop lets trade me my XL and get 100$ off) you can't play that at the app store.
by VegitarianZombie Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:37 PM

In some cases it's true that those games are "disposable", but so are a ton of DS games. Every form of gaming has good and bad. Basically, I'm fine with this so long as he doesn't diss my Angry Birds. Im a happy addict.
by bioshocker Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:42 PM

I honestly won't have a problem paying $35-45 for a 3DS game. It would be much more worth it to me than paying $1-2 for a crappy flash game-esque title. And I don't even have an iPhone anyways, so....
by Robert J. Hollis Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 05:45 PM

I really don't care about phone games and I wouldn't spend a buck or two on them either, but thats me. Though $35-$40 is clearly higher than a dollar, I rather have a game I know I'll play to the end and/or continue playing than have some mini-game that I'll end up getting bored thirty minutes later....maybe less.