Nintendo To Allow Digital Purchases Via Smartphone And PC

Steven Bogos

The Taco Man
Jan 17, 2013
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Nintendo To Allow Digital Purchases Via Smartphone And PC

[img_source="http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/downloads/" site="Nintendo"]

Nintendo is currently working to further expand its digital business, says top banana Satoru Iwata.

Nintendo have long been the laughing stock of the gaming world when it comes to utilizing the internet. The Wii's online capabilities were easily the poorest of the big 3, and its digital distribution network has been woefully inadequate. This is something the company hopes to turn around, says President Satoru Iwata. "[Expanding our digital business] is crucial for expanding profitable opportunities," Iwata told Japanese video streaming service Nico Nico Video [http://news.nicovideo.jp/watch/nw708691].

Before the end of this year, Iwata promises that Nintendo will be adding a new system that allows players to manage their Nintendo Network accounts through smartphones and PCs. Users will be able to purchase games via this method, much in the same way the Steam mobile app currently functions.

A common complaint users have about Nintendo accounts is the fact that they are coupled to a single system, meaning if that system is broken or stolen, you effectively loose all your downloaded titles. Iwata did not comment on whether this move was the first step in possibly decoupling Nintendo Network accounts with one specific piece of hardware.

Iwata reiterates that Nintendo plans on strengthening download sales of the company's software. He revealed that over a quarter of the sales for life simulator Animal Crossing: New Leaf were from digital downloads, a clear indicator that the way people buy videogames is changing.

Nintendo also provided some more information on its connectivity rates. Currently, the Wii U's Internet connectivity rate stands at 80%, while for the Nintendo 3DS, Japan has an 87% connectivity rate, and the US sits at 83%.

Source: Siliconera [http://news.nicovideo.jp/watch/nw708691]

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Prime_Hunter_H01

New member
Dec 20, 2011
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I will be thrilled if this mean I can use PayPal for my 3ds and soon to be WiiU purchases. I'm sure a lot of people find it in convenient to have to buy those cards and i don't wan to use my credit card on these gaming services, when Paypal is easier and another line of security for my money.
 

Teoes

Poof, poof, sparkles!
Jun 1, 2010
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Cool, now Nintendo just needs to price its download software reasonably so that aside from VC titles, people actually feel compelled to use the service.

I'm sure other folk get more use out of things like the Steam mobile app, but personally I only really use it at sale time when I want to keep tabs on the new sales every eight hours and am not at home to do so. I wouldn't log into the Nintendo eShop on my mobile just to realise that a digital copy of Fire Emblem is still more expensive than shop-bought, just like it was last night and last week and last month. Sales, Nintendo! Competitive and reasonable prices!