There are many tags on the popular mobile game Pokemon Go: ar (augmented reality) technology, Nintendo's first mobile game, Google Maps data and Pikachu, a super IP that needs no further explanation.
Nintendo used to dominate the whole game industry with red and white machines in the 1980s. At the beginning of the new century, Nintendo also successfully opened the home market with its subversive Wii somatosensory home video game machine, especially those mothers who hate game machines very much. They are also willing to play fitness games through Wii. But Nintendo subsequently launched the Wii game console.
However, because of the arrival of the mobile Internet era, U feels quite lonely. By the end of March this year, that product had only sold12.8 million units, which was far from the original goal of10 million units. Nintendo's net loss in the first quarter of this year reached $2160,000, which made this old game company questioned by many people.
Like many established cultural and creative enterprises, Nintendo also has a large number of classic super IPs, such as Super Mario and Pokémon, which are the best sellers in the game history, and the legend of zelda, which has the highest comprehensive evaluation by the global media. With these irreplaceable resources, how should we incubate these super IP? Judging from the explosion of the mobile game Pokemon Go, for Pikachu, which is very familiar to domestic players, Nintendo chose the way of "not eating cute pets", but using a more distinctive game experience to strengthen the derivation of IP.
Pikachu is already quite famous, which is very suitable for making war games and cultivating the protagonist of the game. It seems that there is still a shortcut, that is, to develop a very popular card mobile game, which may also stimulate the enthusiasm of players. However, Nintendo did not perfunctory things and chose the experiential gameplay of "catching cute pets". If you can find cute pets in reality, will players find it more interesting? In the game design, every cute pet's position in the virtual world is very particular, and that virtual position is highly matched with the real map. The new question comes again: how to set and reflect the familiar characteristics of cute pets in the game?
Making mobile games with the help of Google's map data is already a very innovative practice and a "powder-sucking" design. Just as Nintendo has successfully absorbed housewives who are completely out of the game through Wii somatosensory games, Pikachu's task this time is to attract those who are keen on outdoor sports and don't have so much fragmented time to play games.
Pokemon Go's gameplay seems simple, but it is very realistic, which has exceeded the "radiation" range that Pikachu used to attract teenagers. Moreover, the new gameplay is healthier, which can completely make gamers and low-headed people who are "home" enjoy more excitement in the outside world. This game allows players to cross the border from a simple pet development and fighting game experience to a brand-new game world.
How to develop games without high technology? In fact, Nintendo's past IP often only played a "familiar" guide for players. For example, Super Mario Brothers, players all know that they are plumbers, can jump and pick mushrooms, and can happily save the princess. However, in the huge super Mario series game pedigree, players often forget to jump, but go to drive, play golf or participate in the Olympic Games with Sonik.
In short, the incubation of IP is to "mix a familiar face" first, and then develop a series of game derivatives to bring players a different surprise from the original "familiar face". Otherwise, if players are allowed to pick mushrooms every day, they will be prone to aesthetic fatigue if they can't play Tuozai.