Super Mario sets download record
Nintendo’s first Mario smartphone title has set a download record but gamers baulked at the one-time cost of unlocking content, prompting investors to push the Japanese game makers’ stock to a one-month low.
Super Mario Run hit 25 million downloads just four days after its December 15 release in 151 countries on Apple’s App Store, earning gross sales of about $21 million, showed data from app analyst Sensor Tower.
But Nintendo shares have lost 11% since the launch as the latest game to feature Nintendo’s princess-rescuing Italian plumber received negative reviews from users mainly complaining about its $9.99 one-time cost, rather than the usual model of paying small amounts for special features.
“Mario is arguably the most popular gaming franchise in the world, yet we see only about 8 percent of those who try the game actually purchasing it,” said Sensor Tower analyst Spencer Gabriel.
“I don’t think this is a statement on the game’s quality ... but rather the perceived value when compared to free-to-play games that offer much more content with optional micro transactions that enable players to experience it sooner.”
Super Mario Run is free to download on the App Store where, in Japan, it is rated 2.5 stars out of 5 based on 1,095 reviews.
“This is a fee app disguised as a free app,” wrote reviewer Racing Game Guy. “You need to pay after playing for 10 minutes. I don’t mind paying but the fee is a bit big. It’s a disappointment after waiting with so much expectation.” PARENTAL PRICING Nintendo belatedly decided to enter smartphone gaming after resisting initial pressure from shareholders concerned about that segment’s threat to its core console gaming business.
Soon after, Pokemon GO - based on Nintendo characters — reached 25 million downloads in a then-record 11 days from about 35 countries via the app stores of Apple and Alphabet Google. Nintendo shares more than doubled in price, reaching a six-year high, but plunged soon after the firm said Pokemon GO would have little impact on profit.
With Super Mario Run, the sticking point was known a month prior to release. REUTERS