The latest issue of Famitsu reveals that Nippon Ichi Software is set to put more effort into the mobile market, although their main platforms will continue to be consoles. Their first app to be released is Game Variety, due to come out soon for free. [Thanks, Ryokutya2089!]
Game Variety is in fact a portal app to various single-pay apps released by Nippon Ichi, such as Shin Hayarigami, Yomawari: Night Alone, Shogi, Go, Reversi, Mahjong, Chess, and more.
According to president Niikawa, he believes that in order for Nippon Ichi to stay in business, they will have to find various ways to keep a wide variety of users engaged. In Japan, there is a strong demand on portable game devices, so they reconsidered mobiles as a gaming platform, and felt it was necessary to adapt to the platform.
Game Variety will have 1-2 new apps added to the lineup every month, ranging from games during the PS1 era onwards. They are also looking at licensing other companies’ titles for release. In particular, Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (Marl Kingdom in Japan) will be considered going forward, and if they are able to raise demand for a sequel thanks to smartphone releases, it will lead to the development of a sequel.
In the future, Niikawa wants the company’s new games to release simultaneously on consoles and smartphones, and they are preparing so that development in parallel may happen. That said, consoles are still their base platforms, while these efforts are there to develop a place for Nippon Ichi on the mobile market. Disgaea is also being considered.
