Western game developers aren’t really known for their stellar support of portable game devices such as the Nintendo 3DS. Developers in the west choose to put their flagship games on home consoles and smaller games on mobile platforms such as iOS and Android. High-profile western games on traditional portables are a rarity.
However, Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, says that, while there may appear to be fewer commitments to the 3DS from western publishers, there will be a noticeable change in this situation, come this E3.
“There may appear to be fewer commitments from the U.S. and the European software publishers than those of their Japanese counterparts,” Iwata admitted to investors during a Q&A. He explained: “This is due to the different timing (between Japan and overseas) when they noticed that the Nintendo 3DS would surely expand widely into their markets and, thus, the different timing when they started the actual development of the Nintendo 3DS software.”
Iwata continued: “You will also notice a change in this situation when a richer Nintendo 3DS software lineup in the overseas markets is announced around the time of the E3 show. In Japan, we have this solid feeling that the Japanese publishers will continuously support the Nintendo 3DS. Accordingly, I have no pessimistic view on the Nintendo 3DS software lineup.”
One such game has already been announced. Disney announced Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion (above) for the Nintendo 3DS earlier this year. The side-scrolling game is slated for release on the 3DS this fall. Additionally, Square Enix and n-Space’s Heroes of Ruin could also be considered a high-profile, western-developed 3DS game.
