Super Mario Run hits iOS in December, and its release and pricing structure could be more important to mobile gaming than the behemoth that is Pokémon Go. Here’s why, after 30 years, Nintendo’s beloved plumber could totally revolutionize smartphone games as we know them.
1) One Last Crack At Premium Price: Super Mario Run will start off as a free-to-play game much like Pokémon Go, but Nintendo’s upcoming title has much bigger price implications. After a certain number of demo courses have been completed, players will be required to purchase the rest of the experience for one flat fee. As far as we know now, there are no microtransactions here. Everything is based on one large payment.
Super Mario Run is far from the first mobile game to take this approach, but it’s set up to be the highest-profile example of it. If the app is successful, we may see a wave of premium games that leverage a similar tactic. Hardcore gamers often scoff at mobile games for their hidden costs. Super Mario Run could be the game that changes that perception and encourages larger projects that spark hardcore interest.
2) It Legitimizes Mobile Gaming: In that same vein, Super Mario Run’s release could go a long way towards legitimizing all of mobile gaming. Pokémon Go could certainly be credited with similar honors thanks to its cast of recognizable characters, but there’s no denying that no industry icon is more recognizable than Mario.
With that notoriety in mind, Nintendo has been exceptionally careful about how characters from that franchise are used. If the company has enough faith in Super Mario Run to take the series off a Nintendo platform, it shows not only how good the game is but also how valuable mobile gaming has become. Mario has been linked in consumers’ minds to some of the best hardware in the business. Now that he’s mobile, one might say that iOS and Android have officially “arrived” in gaming.
3) Cracking Down On The Clones: Super Mario Run is the first official Mario game on mobile, but those that want a similar experience have been able to try out some shoddy gameplay clones for the last few years. Having to wade through pretenders like Lep's World and Monino just feels dirty, and it makes all app stores feel a bit cheap.
Now that Nintendo plans to step into the mobile market, odds are good that company lawyers will double down to clean out the clones. Typically Nintendo is maligned for its strict copyright stance, but, this time it may make mobile gaming better. It could start clearing up some clutter on platforms that have way too much junk to begin with.
4) Other Developers Could Step In: Pokémon Go is responsible for getting companies like Sony more interested in mobile games, but the success of Super Mario Run could make those ambitions even clearer. After all, the December game is being priced much more like a standard console experience. If that model starts to work, the sky’s the limit for what could come next.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Naughty Dog could feel comfortable charging $20 for an Uncharted mobile game that’s up to the studio’s standards? How cool would it be to play a high-budget Halo on the bus? Tweaking would obviously have to be made for adaptation’s sake, but Nintendo’s risk this winter might be just enough to convince developers to figure out new ways to make untapped genres work. This could be the start of some real triple-A content on mobile.
5) What’s Up With The Apple Connection: Nintendo has partnered with Apple to bring Super Mario Run to iOS first, and that deal can’t be overstated. It’s no secret that Nintendo has long admired Apple for its simplistic approach to technology and philosophy of innovation. Now that these two brands are actually collaborating, things could get very interesting.
On the more plausible end, Nintendo might continue to release exclusive games and content on iOS. If this mobile venture works out, that connection could be a huge boon for Apple. What if Nintendo’s NX or future hardware initiatives fail? Might Apple pony up to buy the entire company? A shift like that could alter the entire mobile landscape, and it all began with Super Mario Run.
Super Mario Run comes to iOS in December and Android at a later date.
Do you think the release and pricing of Super Mario Run will be huge for mobile games? Tell us in the comments section!
