MCV 909 February 24th 2017

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THE BUSINESS OF VIDEO GAMES ISSUE 909 FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24TH 2017

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THE BUSINESS OF VIDEO GAMES ISSUE 909 FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24TH 2017

“SWITCH CAN HELP EXPAND GAMING POPULATION” NICOLAS WEGNEZ TALKS SWITCH IN HIS FIRST INTERVIEW AS NINTENDO UK GENERAL MANAGER PAGE 20

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NEWS NINTENDO SWITCH

Nintendo: No Day One shortage of Switch

By Katharine Byrne STOCK shortages seem to be part and parcel of every new console launch these days, but Nintendo’s UK general manager Nicolas Wegnez has assured MCV that the Switch will be available to buy at retail on Day One. In his first-ever UK interview (see page 20 for our full feature), Wegnez stated that while pre-orders for the Switch are “very strong,” there will still be stock on shop shelves for customers to buy if they haven’t ordered a console in advance.

“It’s true pre-orders are very strong, but we still expect Nintendo Switch to be available at some retailers on Day One,” Wegnez said.

“We do expect shipments to steadily come. As we all know, this is not a sprint but a marathon, which is why we are so busy preparing strong plans for the months to come following the launch.”

Nintendo faced huge stock problems when it launched the Wii in 2006, with shortages lasting for months after release. In 2012, similar supply issues hit the Wii U as well, with some retailers stating at the time that they didn’t have enough stock to even fulfil the pre-orders they’d received. The Wii U shortages ended up being less severe than the Wii, but here’s hoping the Switch won’t face similar stock problems.

Audio games gaining momentum, says Amazon

The Switch will be on retailers’ shelves on Day One, Wegnez told MCV

By Katharine Byrne PRESENTS

VOICE-BASED audio games are gaining ground in the UK thanks to the Amazon Echo and its Alexa voice assistant, says Amazon’s Alexa Skills Kit director Rob Pulciani (pictured, right). What’s more, the platform is only set to grow even bigger as Amazon brings Alexa to its brand-new Fire TV Stick in April.

The current Amazon Fire TV Stick was the top-selling product on Amazon in 2016, and the latest model of the popular streaming device could potentially bring Alexa to millions more customers.

Early hits on Alexa included trivia games such as Jeopardy, The Magic Door and Batman title The Wayne Investigation, but now UK games studios are bringing some of their most established franchises to the platform as well, such as Jagex and its RuneScape Quests: One Piercing Note title.

“One reason I think [games have] got momentum is because interacting with things through your voice is super natural, and once you try it and see the magic of it, it’s February 24th 2017

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5 SECOND FACTS $6.43m

The Humble Freedom Bundle, designed to raise money for human rights and pro-immigration charities, made an astonishing $6.43m

6m

Horizon Zero Dawn could sell four to six million units by the end of 2017, SuperData predicts

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easy to recognise that interacting with your voice feels right,” Pulciani told MCV. “Then you think about Alexa being embedded in other third party devices, so it may just be that Alexa’s in your watch, or car. So if that’s the case and you’re using your voice, and you’re not required to get another device, that feels to me like you’re in a good spot to make progress. That’s why when we talk to developers, it’s less about convincing them to build a voice experience, it’s more about helping them create the best voice experience.”

To read more about RuneScape Quests and Alexa, turn to page 28.

Microsoft has dated its E3 2017 press conference for Sunday, June 11th

292bn

In its annual report, Twitch revealed that users spent 292bn minutes watching streams in 2016

58%

Starbreeze has released its full year-end report for 2016 and its net revenue for the year was up 58 per cent year-on-year, reaching £31m AG Prismatic Controller - PDP Design and manufacture the Afterglow Prismatic Controller for Xbox ONE Officially licensed

by Microsoft europesales@pdp.com

www.pdp.com

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IGN CHINA NEWS

Ziff Davis and Anji Entertainment launch IGN China

By Katharine Byrne ZIFF DAVIS and Beijing media specialist Anji Entertainment have today announced the launch of IGN China, making IGN locally available to audiences in China for the first time.

IGN China will tailor the global IGN formula for audiences in mainland China, with original content available in both Mandarin and Simplified Chinese.

In addition to serving domestic advertisers, IGN China also aims to help foreign companies to reach audiences in China through the site’s global network. The regional scope of business activity also includes Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.

Based in Beijing, Anji Entertainment is a media and entertainment venture specialising in games and technology that was formed in 2015 specifically for the Ziff Davis partnership.

Adam Doree, on behalf of Ziff Davis, said: “We’re incredibly excited about the arrival of IGN

From left to right: Jimmy Wu, Adam Doree, Haobin Zhu, Wei Sun and Hu Ye

in China, in partnership with Anji Entertainment. China is broadly recognized as a huge and unique opportunity for media brands, and Anji’s expertise across entertainment, media, events and the regulatory customs of China, perfectly matches Ziff Davis’ market-leading brands and global business model. The launch of IGN China also underlines IGN’s position as the only truly global games and entertainment media brand.”

Anji Entertainment CEO Haobin Zhu added: “We are very happy to announce the partnership with Ziff Davis for the launch of IGN China. IGN is a globally recognised media brand that will transfer very effectively to the China market opportunity. We have exciting plans for IGN China to inform and entertain audiences in China, as well as to serve brands and advertisers in the region and internationally.”

The launch of IGN China follows 25 similar partnerships, both in the Asia region and worldwide.

Nintendo Classic Mini NES production ‘continues’

By Katharine Byrne REPORTS surfaced last week that the Nintendo Classic Mini: NES might be going out of production, but Nintendo UK has told MCV that its retro console is still being shipped to retailers across Europe.

“Regarding NES Classic Mini, production continues, and Nintendo of Europe will continue to ship units to retail on a regular basis,” a Nintendo spokesperson told MCV. GAME’s senior communications manager Kerry Rizzo has also confirmed to MCV that, “GAME is currently still purchasing and selling Mini NES consoles.”

The news comes after a Norwegian retailer told its customers it would allegedly be receiving its last shipment of Mini

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NES consoles from its distributor in the next two months. Retailer Spillsjappa said on Facebook that the Mini NES had “expired” from its distributor’s range of Nintendo products and that it was “tragic” news for both the company and its customers who were still waiting to receive their orders.

The Mini NES has sold 1.5m units worldwide so far, but the platform holder has been under fire in recent months about ongoing stock problems, with Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé telling CNET that demand had been “greater than we anticipated.”

Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima also told investors this month that the company was still working hard trying to fulfil outstanding orders.

GAME’s Kerry Rizzo told MCV that the retailer “is currently still purchasing and selling Mini NES consoles.”

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NEWS BIG STORIES

NINTENDO SWITCHES TO USER ACCOUNT PURCHASES

YOUTUBER FloKO inadvertently revealed a big change in Nintendo's approach to digital sales this week during an unboxing video.

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted a section of text in the setup of the new console which suggested Nintendo will simply be tying digital purchases to user accounts, rather than locking them to hardware as at present.

WHAT THE INDUSTRY SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

IT'S not exactly official, of course, but the Nintendo Switch on show displayed the following message: "Your Nintendo account contains your Nintendo eShop purchase history and current balance. By re-linking your Nintendo Account after initialising the console, it will be possible to redownload any software or DLC purchased using that account. (Software that has been discontinued may not be available for redownload in some cases.)"

POLYGON commented: "This will finally bring the company up to speed with the majority of digital retailers. One of the most criticised aspects of Nintendo’s online practices is that the company lacked a unified account system, making it difficult for users to manage their digital libraries or carry purchases between consoles."

It continued: "That looked set to change with the launch of the Nintendo Account system last spring, although Nintendo has yet to implement a way to redownload old purchases on its current consoles."

Eurogamer was pleased, simply stating: "Nintendo is finally joining the modern age of digital licenses. That's a switch I can get behind."

THE change has come just in time, as Nintendo is looking to make a lot more of its digital titles on the new console. Its portable nature will make downloading and playing titles a big part of the experience, with many indie games already signed up.

There's still an advantage for consumers buying physical cartridges, though, apart from the usual competitive pricing and pre-owned sales. With 32GB of memory, larger games, such as the 13GB Zelda: Breath of the Wild, will take up a lot of your available storage for installed titles.

In Japan, that storage limit has already been tested, with dual release Dragon Quest Heroes I & II having a combined install of 32GB. Thankfully, you shouldn't need to play both at once.

MICROSOFT MOVES XBOX PRESS CONFERENCE

IT'S all change at E3 this year, and not just because of those 15,000 members of the public joining the party.

Microsoft usually runs its press conference on Monday morning but has now decided to move it to Sunday afternoon.

No official reason was given for the change but it looks like Microsoft wasn't keen on the buzz it was generating from its regular slot.

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WHAT THE INDUSTRY SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

BETHESDA was quick off the mark in reacting to the news that Microsoft was joining it on Sunday, tweeting: "Sunday before E3 getting busy. Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery. Bethesda E3 Showcase will still be Sunday pm.

Details soon."

Two days later, head of Xbox Phil Spencer stated in a blog post that "2017 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years ever for Xbox gamers [with the release of] Project Scorpio – along with a diverse line-up of games."

EA is yet to announce a press conference for E3, though its own EA Play 2017 event starts on Saturday, so it might be making its announcements even earlier. It's looking like a busy weekend.

THE announcement came too late for some members of the media, who are the prime attendees of Microsoft's event - with many having already booked flights and accomodation for the show.

Eurogamer noted that the day was often used to preview games to the press before embargoes lifted on the first day of the show proper.

BGR noted that the move was part of a bigger trend for E3 to sprawl out over the weekend before, as manufacturers try to get their message out first.

MCV simply believes that Microsoft wanted a livelier, more party-like atmosphere.

Sony always generates this for its annual event, and the welllubricated warm-up party it throws helps considerably.

MICROSOFT'S event will certainly be a big draw, and with a 2pm start on the west coast, that makes it a fairly palatable 10am kick-off for those in the UK. Ubisoft has traditionally had the late morning slot on the Monday, but again we have no confirmation whether it will persevere with that this year.

Combine the Microsoft move, the continued EA exodus and the public attendance, and you've got an event that's changing rapidly.

Let's all just hope that it's the product line-up and not the logistics that are the big story when the dust settles in LA.

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THE EDITOR NEWS

THE EDITOR THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER...

FOR the last few years, the PS4 has held the top spot with the Xbox One in a strong second. In fact, sales figures have been the easiest way to separate the two platforms, as there’s arguably little else to divide them.

Similar hardware, plus strong third-party support for both, meant consumers could have a largely identical experience on both platforms - excusing the odd exclusive title, of course. Yes, it’s easy to point out differences between them but compared to previous generations, they are far closer in their offerings than most top pairings of old.

While that’s been a boon for developers working across both platforms, it’s not ideal for the industry as a whole, which needs to offer greater choice if it’s to

attract more customers. The failure of the Wii U to capture the public’s imagination compounded the issue. While so-called ‘core’ gamers haven’t looked upon Nintendo as their primary platform for some years, the company has consistently provided an alternative.

And the market has suffered for its lack of success - a healthy Nintendo console would undoubtedly have seen 2016’s retail figures look a lot perkier.

The launch of the Nintendo Switch is something to celebrate, then. And whether you see Switch as a home console, a handheld, or a genuine hybrid, it certainly brings something different to the mix. It’s something new the industry can offer consumers, and something

A healthy Nintendo console would undoubtedly have seen 2016’s retail figures look a lot perkier.

that will make console gaming more visible to the public.

This week, we’ve gone all out on Switch. If you want to know what Nintendo UK boss Nicolas Wegnez thinks about the new console, see page 20. For details on the launch line-up, see page 23. Plus, we have all the best accessories and related merchandise on page 16.

To be fair, PlayStation and Xbox are also changing it up.

PS4 Pro and PSVR doubledown on the console’s graphical prowess; while the One S expands Xbox’s capabilities and the upcoming Scorpio looks to be positioned, in terms of price and power, like no console we’ve ever seen. And that's a lot of choice for consumers in 2017. sbarton@nbmedia.com

EVENTS CALENDAR FEBRUARY 2017 .........................................................................

GDC 2017 Moscone Center, San Francisco Monday, February 27th Friday, March 3rd n San Francisco’s Moscone Center will host the Game Developers Conference again this year. n This 31st edition of the conference will see developers from all around the world gather to discuss the key trends of the dev industry. n The usual Choice Awards and Independent Games Festival will be part of the festivities again in 2017.

MARCH 2017 .........................................................................

MCV AWARDS 2017 The Brewery, London Thursday, March 9th n The MCV Awards, now in their 15th successful year, are returning for 2017 to recognise the best and brightest the UK

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games industry has to offer in publishing, retail, distribution, marketing, PR, events and media. n This year’s ceremony will take place at The Brewery and you can book tables online. n The 21 main categories are judged by a panel of members of the games industry while Store Manager, Unsung Hero and Person of the Year are selected by the MCV team. n For more information on the ceremony and the 2017 finalists, simply head to the event’s website: www.mcvawards.com LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL 2017 Various events across London Thursday, March 30th Sunday, April 9th n Games London expect 50,000 people to attend this year's edition, after 38,000 people gathered last year. n The festival will open with EGX Rezzed and, like last year, will include the British Academy Games Awards, on April 6th, and the Now Play This fest, from April 7th to 9th.

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Resident Evil VII bolsters January software sales in the US Capcom’s horror title shines in gloomy month for hardware

RESIDENT EVIL VII helped lift US software sales last month after a difficult holiday period and falling hardware sales, data firm NPD has revealed.

Software spending increased by 14 per cent year-on-year last month to $313m (£250m), and spending on the top five games of the month was 17 per cent higher than the top five games of January 2016.

“With only five days in the market, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was the best-selling game in January,” NPD analyst Sam Naji stated. “The last time Capcom had the best-selling game of the month was in March 2009 with Resident Evil 5.”

Charting in second place last month was Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, which was followed by Take-Two’s unstoppable Grand Theft Auto V at No.3. Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue also put in a strong showing at No.6 across all platforms, and was the second best-selling PS4 game after Resident Evil VII. Overall, however, the US games industry spend shrank in January,

showing a decline of four per cent year-on-year. Total industry spend reached $611m (£490m) in January 2017, with a decline in hardware sales being the main factor behind the lack of growth.

Hardware sales slowed down considerably during January, falling 19 per cent year-on-year to $127m (£101m). Sony’s PS4 sold the highest number of units last month, and NPD noted that the PS4 Slim 500GB Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End bundle was the most popular PS4 SKU. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s highly-sought after NES Classic mini was the third best-selling console of the month.

JANUARY 2017 TOP TEN GAMES - PHYSICAL AND FULL GAME DIGITAL FORMATS, ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS

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Software spending increased by 14 per cent year-on-year last month to $313m.

RESIDENT EVIL VII: BIOHAZARD CAPCOM Title Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Grand Theft Auto V Battlefield 1 NBA 2K17 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Madden NFL 17 Watch Dogs 2 Overwatch FIFA 17

Publisher Activision Blizzard Take-Two EA Take-Two Square Enix EA Ubisoft Activision Blizzard EA

3DS rise in Japan after launch of latest Dragon Quest Monsters NINTENDO 3DS sales are up in Japan after the successful launch of the latest title in Square Enix’s Dragon Quest Monsters series, according to the latest market data from Famitsu.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 Professional went straight in at No.1 in Japan last week, shifting over 115,000 units. 3DS sales grew as well, hitting 23,325 units.

That’s a rise of 3.7 per cent week-on-week.

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Koei Tecmo’s Nioh, meanwhile, went in at No.2, selling 89,903 units, and fellow newcomer Yon-Megami Online: Cyber Dimension Neputina from Compile Heart debuted at No.3, selling 41,410 units.

Meanwhile, Pokémon Sun and Moon saw a decline of 13.1 per cent week-on-week, falling from No.2 down to No.4, selling 18,151 units.

Resident Evil VII also experienced a dip in sales, dropping from its top spot at No.1

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down to fifth. With just 14,363 units sold, sales fell 65.9 per cent week-on-week. Sony’s Gravity Rush 2 also fell numerous places from sixth down to ninth with sales falling 50.2 per cent.

Despite the rise in 3DS sales, however, the best-selling hardware of the week was still Sony’s PlayStation 4, with 23,660 machines sold.

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APPOINTMENTS NEWS

BAFTA appoints first VP of games David Gardner joins BAFTA n PQube appoints Pellett n Mojang bolsters creative communications team BAFTA | General partner and co-founder of London Venture Partners DAVID GARDNER OBE has been appointed as the first vice president for games at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

As vice president, Gardner will play an integral role in advancing BAFTA’s global games strategy, increasing the organisation’s activity in the US, including a presence at GDC and E3, and creating an enhanced events programme focused on crosssector debate. The global games strategy also involves providing more content to global games members across different platforms such as Twitch.

Official PlayStation Magazine at Future Publishing, and prior to that he was editor of GamesMaster. He’s also worked on Xbox World 360 Magazine, where he joined Future as a staff writer in 2007.

PQube’s head of marketing GERAINT EVANS commented: “Matthew brings with him a decade of experience, as one of the most successful editors in games media in recent times – we are very pleased to have him as part of the PQube team. 2016 was PQube’s most successful year yet and Matthew will be bringing his knowledge and creativity to some very exciting new projects for an even bigger 2017.”

Gardner stated: “BAFTA is a fabulous organisation that helps advance the art of gaming, film and television. It is unique in that it brings so many storytelling mediums together, and has established itself as a globally recognised charity for peer review, advancement and education. I view my role as helping to expand the game industry’s participation in this tradition and look forward to the breakthroughs that will follow from sharing our craft.”

PQUBE | MATTHEW PELLETT has joined video game publisher PQube as product manager. For the past three years, he’s been editor of

MOJANG | The makers of Minecraft have brought on TOM STONE as creative communications assistant to work on Mojang’s recently relaunched Minecraft website.

He was previously games editor at Future Publishing’s Official Xbox Magazine, where he joined as staff writer in 2015.

Stone said: “I still can’t believe Mojang, who usually exhibit sound judgement, are letting me write for Minecraft.net. We’ve got unrivalled insider access, how-to guides that’ll make you a Minecraft master and regular highlights from a building community so freakishly talented they could likely build a working fleet of hovercrafts in the time it takes me to put on a shoe.”

Distributed by IT World Services TEL: +44 (0)17538 21122 EMAIL: sales@itworldservices.co.uk

©2016 Mimoco, Inc. All rights reserved.

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GAMES BIG RELEASES

HORIZON ZERO DAWN

DEVELOPER Guerrilla Games PUBLISHER Sony DISTRIBUTOR CentreSoft PLATFORM(S) PS4 RRP £59.99 RELEASE DATE March 1st

WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND HOW WELL WILL IT DO?

TALKING to MCV earlier this month, Sony’s product manager Jon Edwards described Horizon Zero Dawn as follows: “Civilisation as we know is gone. The world has been reclaimed by nature and is now dominated by machines.

We follow Aloy; an agile, cunning and inquisitive hunter, on her quest to unravel the truth of the world around her own past.”

Aloy’s story is the RPG’s main focus, with Edwards telling MCV she is the “PlayStation icon of the future.” He added: “Aloy is spirited, adventurous and driven to figure out the challenges that she comes across in this postapocalyptic world inhabited by machines, you really buy into her as a tribal hunter and we think that the players will really enjoy playing as her.”

REVIEWS for Horizon just dropped and they’re excellent so far – 88 on Metacritic. Most critics agreed that Horizon’s gameplay is not revolutionary, with Giant Bomb’s Jeff Gerstmann comparing it to the recent Far Cry games, but the title still feels fresh and new.

“Horizon Zero Dawn is familiar but also really refreshing,” Gerstmann continued. “It’s a great game, it’s Guerrilla’s strongest release to date.” Polygon’s Philip Collar added: “Horizon Zero Dawn thrums with the energy of a creative team finally allowed to explore something new.”

But US Gamer didn’t agree with this, with Caty McCarthy saying Horizon is “disappointing.” “It has a story that I struggled to care about, a bland protagonist, and overtly repetitive and constraining missions,” she stated.

AS one of the most anticipated PS4-exclusive titles of Q1 (if not of the year), Horizon Zero Dawn should sell very well, especially considering the fact it seems to meet expectations, based on the reviews. Sony’s product manager Jon Edwards told MCV earlier this month that pre-orders “are in line with expectations.” He continued: “The players seem to be excited for this new gaming experience and this is reflected in the pre-orders.”

Meanwhile, SuperData predicts that sales for Horizon Zero Dawn will reach four to six million copies in 2017, thanks to “its early in the year release,” CEO Joost van Dreunen said. “Lifetime sales will likely be around six to eight million, which puts it in the same category as Uncharted 4 and Metal Gear Solid V,” he added.

DIGITAL RELEASES I AM SETSUNA

SNIPPERCLIPS – CUT IT OUT, TOGETHER!

HAS-BEEN HEROES

DEVELOPER: Tokyo RPG Factory PUBLISHER: Square Enix PLATFORM(S): Nintendo Switch PRICE: TBC RELEASE DATE: March 3rd

DEVELOPER: SFB Games/Nintendo PUBLISHER: Nintendo PLATFORM(S): Nintendo Switch PRICE: $19.99 (£18) RELEASE DATE: March 2017

DEVELOPER: Frozenbyte PUBLISHER: GameTrust PLATFORM(S): PS4, XO, NS, PC PRICE: TBC RELEASE DATE: March 28th

HAVING released on PC and PS4 last summer, Square Enix’s JRPG is now coming to the Switch as a digital-only launch title. Gamers play as Setsuna, who is ready to sacrifice herself to save her land. The combat system is inspired by classic JRPG Chrono Trigger and the game as a whole is an homage to titles from the ‘90s, the golden era of the genre.

ORIGINALLY developed by SFB Games under the name Friendshapes before it was picked up by Nintendo, Snipperclips might be the cutest Switch game so far. In this multiplayer-focused (up to four players) puzzle-platformer, gamers need to cooperate to snip and cut paper characters to reach the goal. There’s also a single-player mode, of course.

ROGUELIKE title Has-Been Heroes is releasing on all major platforms, including the Switch (the only version that’s also coming to retail). This action-strategy game will challenge gamers as they control three different characters at the same time. The gameplay combines turn-based and realtime strategy and there are over 300 spells, 200 items and 14 regions to discover.

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BIG RELEASES GAMES

THE WALKING DEAD - THE TELLTALE SERIES: A NEW FRONTIER

DEVELOPER Telltale Games PUBLISHER Telltale Games DISTRIBUTOR Warner Bros/CentreSoft PLATFORM(S) PS4, XO RRP £29.99 RELEASE DATE March 3rd

WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND HOW WELL WILL IT DO?

THIS boxed version of Telltale’s popular Walking Dead series features the two-part premiere episodes of the third season, and will give access to the three remaining episodes of the season as they release. Kevin Bruner, co-founder and CEO at Telltale Games, described this third season as “both a continuation of what’s come before in our story, as well as an all-new beginning set nearly four years after the outbreak events of season one.”

He continued: “As a harrowing and horrific drama, A New Frontier will explore beyond what it means to survive in a world ravaged by the undead, and will see our characters confronting the new rules of order and justice in a land being brutally reclaimed and rediscovered by what’s left of humanity itself.”

A NEW FRONTIER’S first two episodes released to very good reviews, gathering a score of 83 on Metacritic. Ryan Meitzler from DualShockers said Ties that Bind Part I & II “bring out the excellent writing, characterization, and world that made the series a compelling and emotionallyinvesting experience.” GameSpot’s Brett Todd stated that A New Frontier is “off to a great start” with “scenes set with more cinematic flair,“ but noted that “nothing here is wildly challenging.”

Meanwhile, Rock Paper Shotgun’s John Walker wasn’t convinced at all, calling the series “mindnumbingly repetitive,” and adding: “It’s pure agony at this point that they’re re-running the exact same bloody plots yet again for a third five-part series.”

HAVING started to release digitally over the course of last year, Telltale’s third season of the Walking Dead series is hitting shelves on the same day as Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch. As a result, there will be some fierce competition, with the Switch potentially overshadowing everything that’s coming out that week. However, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Series is hugely popular, with Season One and Two having sold over 50m episodes worldwide so far. Combine this with the good reviews, and this could be another huge success for Telltale.

In the UK, the boxed version of the first season debuted at No.12 in the monthly charts back in May 2013, while 2014’s Season Two debuted at No.44.

INCOMING TITLE

Only one week to go before the Switch. Until then, a couple of action games are hitting shelves today, as is Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch FORMAT

GENRE

PUBLISHER

TELEPHONE

DISTRIBUTOR

PS4

Action

Koei Tecmo

01462 476130

Open

February 24th Berserk and the Band of the Hawk Sublevel Zero - Redux

PS4

Action

Merge Games

01215 069 590

Advantage

Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch

PS4

Strategy

Funbox Media

01246 810623

Open

PS4/XO/PC

RPG

Techland

01256 385 200

Koch Media

PS4

Action

Sony

0121 625 3388

CentreSoft

N/A

Hardware

Nintendo

01753 483700

Open

NS

Party game

Nintendo

01753 483700

Open

February 28th Torment: Tides of Numenera March 1st Horizon Zero Dawn March 3rd Nintendo Switch 1-2-Switch Just Dance 2017

E READ MOR H ON SWITC GAMES ON PAGE 23

NS

Party game

Ubisoft

01279 822 822

Exertis

Skylanders Imaginators

NS

Toys-to-life

Activision Blizzard

0121 625 3388

CentreSoft

Super Bomberman R

NS

Action

Konami

02089 875 730

Open

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

NS, Wii U

Action-adventure

Nintendo

01753 483700

Open

The Walking Dead - The Telltale Series: A New Frontier

PS4, XO

Adventure

Telltale Games

01216 253 388

CentreSoft

Valhalla Hills - Definitive Edition

PS4

Strategy

Kalypso Media

0121 506 9585

Advantage

PS4, XO, PC

Shooter

Ubisoft

01279 822 822

Exertis

March 7th Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands

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GAMES WEEKLY CHARTS

WEEKLY CHARTS TOP 40 UK PHYSICAL RETAIL 011

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02

03

Title For Honor Sniper Elite 4 Grand Theft Auto V FIFA 17 Battlefield 1 Resident Evil VII: Biohazard Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Rocket League Forza Horizon 3 Watch Dogs 2 Overwatch Nioh Minecraft: Xbox Edition Hitman: The Complete First Season LEGO Dimensions WWE 2K17 LEGO Star Wars The Force Awakens Pokémon Sun Steep Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Mafia III Fallout 4 Minecraft: PlayStation Edition Gears of War 4 NBA 2K17 Titanfall 2 LEGO Marvel Avengers Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege Doom Pokémon Moon Final Fantasy XV Super Mario Maker Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection No Man’s Sky Star Wars Battlefront Dragon Ball Fusions Tom Clancy’s The Division Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Dead Rising 4 Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World

04

Format PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PS3, 360, PC PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO XO PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PC PS4 XO, 360 PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, Wii U, PS3, 360 PS4, XO, PS3, 360 PS4, XO, Wii U, PS3, 360 3DS PS4, XO PS4, XO PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PC PS4, PS3, Vita XO PS4, XO, PS3, 360 PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, Wii U, PS3, 360 PS4, XO, PC PS4, XO, PC 3DS PS4, XO 3DS PS4, XO PS4 PS4, XO, PC 3DS PS4, XO, PC PS4 XO 3DS

05

Publisher Ubisoft Rebellion/Sold Out Rockstar EA EA Capcom Activision 505 Games Microsoft Ubisoft Blizzard Sony/Koei Tecmo Microsoft Square Enix Warner Bros 2K Games Warner Bros Nintendo Ubisoft Bethesda 2K Games Bethesda Sony Microsoft 2K Games EA Warner Bros Ubisoft Bethesda Nintendo Square Enix Nintendo Ubisoft Sony EA Bandai Namco Ubisoft Sony Microsoft Nintendo

UBISOFT’S new IP For Honor made quite an entrance last week, not only debuting at No.1 in the charts, but also being the biggest new IP to launch at the top since No Man’s Sky in August last year. The title sold 57 per cent of its units on PS4 and 43 per cent on Xbox One, GfK commented. It’s the first No.1 for Ubisoft since the release of Tom Clancy’s The Division back in March 2016.

Second place was also taken by another new title, with Rebellion and Sold Out’s Sniper Elite 4 opening to strong sales. It pushed Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V down two places to No.3. However, launch sales for the title were down 16 per cent compared to Week One sales for Sniper Elite 3, which debuted at No.1 back in June 2014.

GfK noted that the last time there were new titles at both No.1 and No.2 in the charts was during the launch of FIFA 17 and Forza Horizon 3 in the week ending October 1st, 2016.

STRONG SELLERS In the rest of the Top Ten, FIFA 17 remained at No.4 despite sales increasing 45 per cent, and Battlefield 1 rose to No.5 with sales increasing 48 per cent.

Both titles grew thanks to retailer promotions, said GfK. After already gaining 14 places the week before, Microsoft’s Forza Horizon 3 re-

entered the Top Ten last week, with a 138 per cent growth in sales.

Meanwhile, Koei Tecmo’s Nioh and Square Enix’s Hitman: The Complete First Season were pushed out of the Top Ten, the former to No.12 with sales decreasing 69 per cent and the latter to No.14, with a 31 per cent decline in sales.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros’ LEGO Dimensions re-entered the charts at No.15 with sales rising 187 per cent, likely boosted by the recent release of new packs and the launch of The LEGO Batman Movie. There were also special offers on the toys-to-life title at retail, GfK reported.

Microsoft’s Gears of War 4 also re-entered the charts last week thanks to a 108 per cent growth in sales. This is likely due to the release of the game’s latest update, which boosted sales at retail.

Elsewhere, Bandai Namco’s 3DS-exclusive Dragon Ball Fusions debuted at No.36.

STEAM POWERED Meanwhile on Steam, For Honor not only debuted at No.1, but also managed to appear three other times in the listings: pre-orders for the title were at No.3, while the Deluxe Edition debuted at No.5 and the Gold Edition landed at No.8.

Sniper Elite 4 debuted at No.6, while last week’s No.1, Conan Exiles, was pushed back to No.9.

Ubisoft’s new IP For Honor debuted at No.1 last week

Source: UKIE/GfK Entertainment, Period: Week ending February 18th February 24th 2017

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WEEKLY CHARTS GAMES

Market Data The release of For Honor and Sniper Elite 4 boosted retail last week with sales increasing 45 per cent in units and an impressive 65 per cent in revenue

£15m

£10m £15m

£30m £5m

£11.1m 339,466 units

£7.8m 265,862 units

Week Ending January 28th

Week Ending February 4th

£7.1m 249,367 units

£11.7m 361,881 units

Week Ending February 18th

Week Ending February 11th

GLOBAL STEAM CHARTS (UNITS)

01 TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

LW 07 08 04 NEW NEW RE NEW 01 03

SPONSORED BY

PRE-ORDER TOP 10

FOR HONOR

01

DEVELOPER: UBISOFT PUBLISHER: UBISOFT

Title Grand Theft Auto V For Honor (P) H1Z1 King of the Kill For Honor Deluxe Edition Sniper Elite 4 Rise of the Tomb Raider - 20 Year Celebration For Honor Gold Edition Conan Exiles Counter Strike: Global Offensive

TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Publisher Rockstar Ubisoft Daybreak Game Company Ubisoft Rebellion Square Enix Ubisoft Funcom Valve

HORIZON ZERO DAWN EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH EDITION (PS4)

SONY

Title Nintendo Switch Grey Console Mass Effect Andromeda (PS4) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Special Edition (Switch) Persona 5 “Take Your Heart” Collectors Edition (PS4) Mass Effect Andromeda (XO) South Park The Fractured But Whole - Inc Stick of Truth (PS4) Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Inc The Peruvian Connection (PS4) Nintendo Switch Neon Red - Neon Blue

Publisher Nintendo EA Nintendo Nintendo Deep Silver EA Ubisoft Ubisoft Nintendo

Source: Steam, Period: Week ending February 19th

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22/02/2017 15:41

GAMES MOBILE CHARTS

MOBILE CHARTS UK IPAD PAID (UNITS)

UK IPHONE PAID (UNITS)

01

01

TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

LW 02 RE NEW 10 03 04 06 09 NEW

MINECRAFT: POCKET EDITION DEVELOPER: MOJANG

Title Scribblenauts Unlimited Terraria Ultimate Cat Simulator Hitman Sniper Scribblenauts Remix The Chase Tipping Point Geometry Dash OK Golf

TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Publisher Warner Bros 505 Games Gluten Free Games Square Enix Warner Bros Barnstorm Games Barnstorm Games RobTop Games Okidokico Entertainment

LW 02 04 05 06 03 09 08 10 07

Source: UKIE/Refl ection, Period: February 6th - February 12th

HITMAN SNIPER DEVELOPER: SQUARE ENIX

Title Minecraft: Pocket Edition Tank Hero Plague Inc. Heads Up! Football Manager Mobile 2017 Bloons TD 5 Monopoly Game Geometry Dash The Chase

Source: UKIE/Refl ection, Period: February 6th - February 12th

UK IPAD GROSSING (REVENUE)

UK IPHONE GROSSING (REVENUE)

01

01

TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

LW 03 05 04 06 02 07 09 RE RE

CANDY CRUSH SAGA DEVELOPER: KING

Title Roblox Candy Crush Soda Saga Clash of Clans Mobile Strike Game of War - Fire Age Gardenscapes - New Acres Zynga Poker - Texas Holdem: Vegas Casino Card Game Bubble Witch 3 Saga Minecraft: Pocket Edition

TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Publisher Roblox Corporation Machine Zone Supercell Epic War Machine Zone Playrix Zynga King Mojang

LW 06 02 03 04 08 05 07 09 RE

Source: UKIE/Refl ection, Period: February 6th - February 12th

8 BALL POOL DEVELOPER: MINICLIP.COM

Title Clash of Clans Candy Crush Saga Mobile Strike Clash Royale Pokémon GO Game of War - Fire Age Candy Crush Soda Saga Episode - Choose Your Story + Pretty Little Liars Zynga Poker - Texas Holdem: Vegas Casino Card Game

UK IPHONE FREE (UNITS)

01

01

LW 03 09 01 04 05 RE RE RE 08

BUBBLE WITCH 3 SAGA DEVELOPER: KING

Title Word Cookies!

LEGO Batman Movie Game Pokémon Duel Spiral Paper.io Chameleon Run Bee Brilliant Multi Level 7 Car Parking Garage Park Training Lot Roblox

TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Publisher BitMango Warner Bros The Pokémon Company Ketchapp Voodoo Noodlecake Studios Tactile Entertainment Aidem Media Roblox Corporation

Source: UKIE/Refl ection, Period: February 6th - February 12th February 24th 2017

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Publisher Supercell King Epic War Supercell Niantic Machine Zone King Episode Interactive Zynga

Source: UKIE/Refl ection, Period: Period: February 6th - February 12th

UK IPAD FREE (UNITS)

TW 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Publisher Mojang Clapfoot Ndemic Creations Warner Bros Sega Ninja Kiwi EA RobTop Games Barnstorm Games

LW RE 03 02 06 RE 05 RE RE RE

SPIRAL

DEVELOPER: KETCHAPP

Title Cash me outside Word Cookies!

8 Ball Pool Real City Car Driving Sim 2017 Chameleon Run Paper.io Bubble Witch 3 Saga 100 Pics Quiz Club Penguin

Publisher Anonymous Inc BitMango Miniclip.com Musa Candir Noodlecake Studios Voodoo King Poptacular Disney

Source: UKIE/Refl ection, Period: February 6th - February 12th 14

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22/02/2017 14:52

MOBILE ANALYSIS GAMES

MOBILE ANALYSIS: SUPERCELL’S STRATEGY TENCENT-OWNED Finnish mobile powerhouse Supercell is reportedly on the lookout for purchases.

That’s according to a Financial Times story, in which the firm’s CEO Ilkka Paananen said the company was looking to get involved with other studios.

“It’s no secret we have been looking at other teams, and we are absolutely looking to a selective few acquisitions outside Helsinki and Finland as well,” Paananen said. “We have also started to grow Supercell’s Shanghai office and taken the first steps to integrate into WeChat.”

The FT says that Supercell is looking to buy new studios as the firm’s ‘sales stall’. Presumably this is in reference to one of its pillar games, Clash of Clans, which saw revenue stay flat at £1.8bn, compared with a 36 per cent rise between 2014 and 2015.

Clash Royale topped the charts in 131 countries at launch, Paananen said

According to research firm Sensor Tower, Supercell’s March 2016 release Clash Royale made $1bn (£0.8bn) in under 12 months.

The company also says that Clash Royale grossed five times as much as Clash of Clans did in the same length of time.

In a statement, Paananen said: “2016 was our best year so far. We

Paananen says that this flatness was due, in part, to the cultural phenomenon that was Pokémon Go. “Pokémon Go came along in the summer and many of our players shifted there,” said Paananen.

It’s not all bad news, though: the company reports sales of $2.3bn (£1.8bn) in 2016.

released our fourth game, Clash Royale, which has been really successful so far – topping the charts in 131 countries right away and has now spent a total of 130 days at number one in the U.S. To do this in the most competitive environment for mobile games ever, with over 750 new games released every day on average, is a fantastic achievement.

“Just as importantly, our three existing games continued to thrive – each of them has not only reached the Top Ten, but stayed there for a long time. It has been incredible to see how our games have become part of peoples’ lives this way, we have millions of players all over the world who have played our games for years.

That has always been the longterm vision of Supercell, to be the best place in the world for the best teams to produce games that people want to play for years.”

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK: Horizon Zero Dawn AFTER months of anticipation, Horizon Zero Dawn will finally land on PS4 in a few days - and on every bus stop, TV and cinema in the UK as well, apparently.

“As a tent-pole release, Horizon Zero Dawn has the full weight of the PlayStation business behind it,” Sony’s product manager Jon Edwards told MCV. “We believe it to be the best example so far of what PS4 Pro is capable of and as such a huge opportunity for both software and hardware sales throughout 2017.”

Horizon’s PS4 Pro compatibility is a key focus for Sony.

“Gamers playing on [PS4 Pro] will experience enhanced graphics, frame rate and HDR support if they have a HDR-

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compatible 4K TV,” Edwards continued. “This means that the detail in the natural environment and enhanced colours really come to life. On a standard PS4 the graphics are still incredible so for this reason, and because it’s a new IP, we’ve been focusing on getting fans early hands on, a large amount of promoted video content and an early review embargo.”

The UK campaign kicked off last September at EGX, where fans got the first hands on. In January, spots started to appear in cinemas. Of course, there’s also a TV and VOD campaign, “including the Premier League, England and Ireland’s Rugby games, Champions League, films,

It’s the best example so far of what PS4 Pro is capable of.

Jon Edwards, Sony

15

FORMAT: PS4 RELEASED: March 1st PUBLISHER: Sony DISTRIBUTOR: CentreSoft CONTACT: 0121 625 3388

series’ including Fortitude and a significant spend with Channel 4 on a full ad break takeover within Gogglebox,” Edwards listed. “In out of home, we have 1,500 bus T-sides running for two weeks including a number of breakout executions. In launch week we are running a cover-wrap with Time Out featuring our vision of London in the Horizon Zero Dawn world.”

February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 14:53

GAMES MERCHANDISE

Sponsored by

g

gaming merchandise uk

MARGIN MAKERS THIS WEEK: NINTENDO SWITCH With only one week to go until the Nintendo Switch hits shelves, Marie Dealessandri looks at the merchandise launching alongside the console

THE Nintendo Switch is ready to take retail by storm, with the help of a wealth of accessories and tie-in items.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild alone has enough merchandise to fill the shelves of every UK retailers, but with thirdparty publishers on board as well, it means that older titles are going to be under the spotlight again, giving retailers more opportunities to sell related merchandise.

Nintendo is also launching a fair amount of accessories for its new console, which should

please retailers and players alike - although prices are on the high side. It’s also signed partnerships with third party accessories firms such as Snakebyte, Venom and PDP. And with triple-A Nintendo games landing on Switch later this year, such as Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2 and new IP Arms, there will be plenty of opportunities to sell Nintendo merchandise throughout 2017 – and that’s good news because Nintendo merchandise always

NINTENDO SWITCH ACCESSORY SET THIS pack includes a carry case for the Switch, a screen protector and an ‘organising pad’ that can store up to five games cards and two Joy-Con straps.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD LINK STATUE

SRP: £16.99 Manufacturer: Nintendo Distributor: Open Contact: 01753 483700

THIS amazingly detailed Link statue (in his Breath of the Wild outfit) stands 25 cm tall and comes with a matching base. It will launch in May and is available for pre-order.

SRP: £59.99 Manufacturer: Together Plus Distributor: Gaming Merchandise UK Contact: hello@ gamingmerchandiseuk.com

JOY-CON CHARGING GRIP THE Joy-Con grip bundled with the Switch doesn’t actually charge the controllers, so players might want to invest in this charging grip, which will release on March 3rd.

SRP: £24.99 Manufacturer: Nintendo Distributor: Open Contact: 01753 483700

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MERCHANDISE GAMES SET OF 3 PAIR STUD EARRINGS: STAR, BOO & MUSHROOM SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY isn’t out until Christmas on Switch, but we might as well pass the time by buying pretty, shiny Mario-related things, such as these earrings.

SRP: £15 Manufacturer: BioWorld Europe Distributor: BioWorld Europe Contact: info@bioworldeurope.com

NINTENDO SWITCH PRO CONTROLLER FOR Switch owners who want a more traditional controller to play games with, Nintendo is launching this Pro unit alongside the console. It’s wireless, features all the traditional buttons, a ‘capture button’ to take screenshots, and a NFC reader for Amiibos.

SHOVEL KNIGHT POSTER WITH both Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove and Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment landing on the Switch, it’s time to update the posters on your wall with this high-quality print.

SRP: £59.99 Manufacturer: Nintendo Distributor: Open Contact: 01753 483700

SRP: $30 (£24) Manufacturer: Drew Wise/Fangamer Distributor: Fangamer Contact: orders@fangamer.com

SPLATOON INKLING HAT HERE’S a gift for the little ones (or not, we’re not judging) while they wait for the release of Splatoon 2 on the Switch this summer.

SRP: £9.99 Manufacturer: Nintendo Distributor: Open Contact: 01753 483700

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22/02/2017 14:04

GAMES MERCHANDISE

Sponsored by

g

gaming merchandise uk

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD LIMITED EDITION THE highly awaited The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will, of course, have its limited edition at retail.

It includes the game, the soundtrack and a Master Sword statue.

SRP: £89.99 Manufacturer: Nintendo Distributor: Open Contact: 01753 483700

SKYRIM COLLECTOR PRINT - DAEDRIC ARMOR THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM should launch on the Switch at some point during Fall 2017, which is a good enough reason to buy new Skyrim merch, such as this 30 x 40 cm collector print.

SRP: £16.99 Manufacturer: GB Eye Distributor: Gaming Merchandise UK Contact: hello@gamingmerchandiseuk.com

JOY-CON WHEEL PAIR TO celebrate the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on April 28th, Nintendo’s launching these racing wheels to improve the experience.

They come exclusively in pairs, but the Joy-Con are not included.

SRP: £12.99 Manufacturer: Nintendo Distributor: Open Contact: 01753 483700

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: ART & ARTIFACTS DARK HORSE released this 424-page bible on The Legend of Zelda’s art and artifacts a few days ago, just in time for retailers to stock it before the Switch hits shelves.

It features pieces from Breath of the Wild, amongst other popular titles in the franchise, and interviews with the artists behind the series.

SRP: £29.99 Manufacturer: Dark Horse Distributor: Diamond Comic Distributors UK Contact: 01928 531 760

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AdTemplate.indd 1

21/02/2017 12:25

FEATURES THE BIG INTERVIEW

Switch: ‘Anytime, anywhere, and with anyone’ In his first interview since taking charge at Nintendo UK last year, general manager Nicolas Wegnez speaks to Seth Barton on the dawn of a new era for the company

February 24th 2017

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THE BIG INTERVIEW FEATURES

before, most notably with the Nintendo DS and Wii platforms.

With Switch launching in the middle of its competitors’ hardware cycles, however, it can’t compete in terms of either software support or price. Instead, it plans to offer something fresh: “Nintendo Switch is a completely different proposition to other products out there in the market,” says Wegnez.

It looks to be a canny move, especially given just how similar Sony and Microsoft’s offerings are for this generation. The pair are primarily fighting over the same turf: the dedicated 20-something gamer with lots of time to sit in front of their TV and a passion for the big games in popular genres.

Switch is looking to sidestep all that by appealing to those who often struggle to find time to play games, Wegnez continues.

“Nintendo Switch offers [gamers] the ability and freedom to ‘switch’ how they play their favourite games anytime, anywhere, and with anyone. We have a huge point of difference for a very broad audience.

“Out of the box, it includes a home console that you can also play on the go, and it comes packed with two high-tech motion-sensing controllers for multiplayer gaming that include innovative features, like the shape-sensing IR Motion Camera and impressive HD Rumble, that allow for new experiences.”

There’s no doubt, then, that the Switch also has something to offer gamers who already own one or both rival platforms, and Nintendo is courting those who traditionally buy new hardware right out of the gate.

“We, of course, will initially try to convince the early adopters of new technologies, the Nintendo fans, the multiplatform gamers,” Wegnez says. However, Nintendo’s aims also include its traditional heartland, adding: “[We] won’t forget the kids and family audience as we move forward.”

That family audience has stuck with Nintendo through the Wii U years, thanks to the success of the 3DS in general and specifically Pokémon over recent months. If the company can transpose its handheld fans onto Switch, it could

Nintendo Switch is a completely different proposition to other products out there in the market.

Nicolas Wegnez, Nintendo UK

N

intendo is once again looking to reach beyond the core gaming markets with an innovative new console.

However, this time it’s doing so by drawing on all its experience to create a true hybrid platform.

“Nintendo Switch is a unique gaming and tech product that’s a home console, a handheld console and a product that invents new ways to play,” UK general manager Nicolas Wegnez tells MCV. Nintendo’s recent record with home consoles reads a bit like the Star Trek movies, with every smash hit being tempered by a www.mcvuk.com

20 21 22 MCV909 Switch Interview_V4.indd 2

less successful successor. When it comes to portable devices, though, Nintendo’s scorecard is unblemished across both the Game Boy and DS eras.

Combining the two, then, is both a clever and risky strategy. With Switch, Nintendo is putting all its Yoshi eggs into one basket.

UNIQUE PROPOSITION “We consistently feel the need to innovate and be different by offering ways to play only possible on our platforms,” explains Wegnez. It’s a sound strategy, too, and one that’s reaped dividends 21

eventually eliminate its handheld platform altogether, potentially doubling the number of titles its internal studios could produce for Switch each year.

LINING THEM UP Nintendo has consistently innovated in hardware over its illustrious history. However, the Wii U couldn’t follow up on the Wii’s incredible success in shifting hardware. That said, it’s no secret that both consoles struggled with third-party support, leaving owners and retailers scrambling between big first-party launches.

Wegnez is bullish about the Switch line-up announced to date, though, and with Breath of the Wild, Nintendo arguably has its strongest launch title in years.

“As always, we have a strong line-up of exclusive Nintendo titles with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2 and Arms all releasing this year, but also the knowledge that you’ll be able to play other key third-party IPs like FIFA, Minecraft and Skyrim anywhere, anytime on one device – that is something that is only possible and which Nintendo Switch can ultimately deliver.”

Addressing the issue of support for the console going forward, Wegnez comments: “One of the key things we really want with Nintendo Switch is to have a great roster of games coming out consistently for the platform both from a first-party and thirdparty point of view, step-by-step throughout this year and beyond.”

It could also be said that the Wii U’s relative failure will prove a boon for Switch’s early years, with flagship titles from the previous generation resurrected for a (potentially) wider audience on the new platform - and as more than just straight ports as well.

“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an example of a game that many think they know, but will show how Nintendo Switch offers many new ways to play. On top of adding a revamped battle mode, Nintendo Switch will allow people the freedom to experience this game in many new fun ways, and that will show how the Switch offers something completely new February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 17:19

FEATURES THE BIG INTERVIEW

many people’s hands as possible.

However, living in this digital era we recognise the significance of online tools, therefore we have a comprehensive range of online assets for all our e-commerce partners to embrace.”

The Switch will allow gamers to experience various ways of playing

from what has come before with Wii and Wii U.” Another way that Nintendo looks to round out its launch schedule is by putting a greater emphasis on smaller, digital titles. We’ve already seen a number of indie titles announced for Switch - so just how important will the digital side of Switch be, compared to previous Nintendo platforms?

“I think every new generation of hardware clearly gives more importance to digital versus the previous one, and Nintendo Switch will not be an exception to that. It has also been shared previously that the Switch makes it easy for developers of any size to create content on the platform.”

It’s not just going to be ports of titles seen elsewhere, either, with Wegnez noting the additional possibilities that the Switch’s hardware provides: “There are many independent developers working on games for Nintendo Switch already and we can’t wait to see what they will create using the unique features that [the] system offers.”

SWITCHING OVER It may be an intriguing offering, but Wegnez isn’t quite ready to back up his claims with any hard figures when we ask about preorders, saying instead: “[Pre-orders are] very strong, which is obviously a very encouraging sign, but as we all know this is not a sprint but a marathon, which is why we are so busy preparing strong plans for the months following the launch.”

Companies are usually pretty canny about hardware at launch.

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Too little and you restrain supply; too much and the console can lose desirability. So we ask if the console will sell out and how quickly the UK will see further hardware shipments: “It’s true pre-orders are very strong but we still expect Nintendo Switch to be available at some retailers on Day One. We do expect shipments to steadily come,” Wegnez replies, which sounds like good news for retailers, who are always happy with a steady supply.

Given the unusual nature of the device, we wonder how Nintendo is supporting retail in explaining the Switch to consumers?

“Firstly, point-of-sale and literature are still a very powerful communication tool for those retail partners who have stores, and where there has been appetite, we have produced a suite of vehicles to help them communicate the unique features of Nintendo Switch.”

We were particularly taken with certain aspects of the Switch that were hard to get over in text or even with video, such as the HD Rumble feature.

“We have seen that having hands on with Nintendo Switch really does help people to understand its appeal. This is even more true when you can experience how to switch between gameplay modes, use the Joy-Con in different ways or, yes, feel that surprising ‘HD Rumble’ feature.

“For all the above, we are working on sampling plans to try and get Nintendo Switch into as

THE EURO SWITCH NICOLAS WEGNEZ became general manager at Nintendo UK in June 2016, but he’s been keeping his head down since then, with this being his first interview in the role.

Wegnez is a familiar face within Nintendo, though, having held positions at the platform holder for more than 20 years. Before moving to the UK, he served as marketing and PR director at Nintendo Iberica - looking after the firm’s Spanish and Portuguese operations.

He’s just one of a team of experienced Nintendo staff drafted into the UK business from the European arm.

Matthias Hempfling now works as marketing and PR director, having previously worked as senior European marketing manager at Nintendo Europe. Meanwhile, Kalpesh Tailor is head of communications, also joining from NOE where he worked as European PR manager.

22

GAMING NATION Speaking about the UK more specifically, we ask whether the console is particularly suited to the home market? Wegnez starts by saying: “We will do our best to help the UK population understand and experience what makes Nintendo Switch different and unique, as we truly believe this product can help Nintendo continue on its mission to expand the video game population.”

That’s a bold mission statement that Nintendo’s making there, but over the decades a Nintendo console has been many gamers first real console, so if anyone can grow the gaming market, it’s Nintendo.

The Wii was hugely successful in this regard, as were many of the company’s handheld products.

Coming back to the UK, he continues: “Having only been living and working in the UK since June, I am obviously still learning about the people in this country, but I am aware they are tech lovers who usually adopt new technology faster than their European counterparts. I also think people in the UK live fast-paced lives, moving around a lot, and I think Nintendo Switch’s mix of versatility with its three modes will be welcomed, offering various options for people to adapt the way they play.”

More specifically, we ask why he thinks Switch will be big in Britain? “The consumer reaction we are observing when people touch and experience Nintendo Switch in the UK is the biggest reason,” Wegnez responds. “We can’t wait for more people to experience it, especially in the comfort of their own home in console mode, or on the go in tabletop or handheld mode.

“We strongly believe that when people experience the console itself in conjunction with the games launching for the system that the proposition of what Nintendo Switch has to offer will resonate strongly.” www.mcvuk.com

22/02/2017 17:19

NINTENDO SWITCH GAMES FEATURES

Switch’s high five The Switch’s launch line-up is an exercise in quality over quantity, plus when you’ve got a brand-new Zelda game leading the charge, you know this isn’t an ordinary console launch.

Here’s everything you need to know about the five games coming to retail on March 3rd

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Distributor: Open Price: £59.99

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WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND HOW WELL WILL IT DO?

A NEW Zelda game is always a big event in the industry calendar, but Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has said that Breath of the Wild has been “far and away the most anticipated Nintendo Switch game right from the start.” It’s easily the stand-out title on Day One, and its huge open world should give players plenty to tuck into during the Switch’s opening months. Series producer Eiji Aonuma added: “When creating the world, we went to great lengths to make Hyrule a massive place. Since this incarnation of Hyrule is so huge, it’s our hope that everyone who plays will have a wide variety of fun experiences as they explore.”

UNSURPRISINGLY, most critics can’t wait to get their hands on the full game, with Stuff’s Rob Leedham saying it’s quite literally “the biggest Zelda yet, both in terms of scale and the variety of techniques you can use to tackle dungeons and challenges – a truly mouthwatering prospect”.

Meanwhile, Gamesradar’s Connor Sheridan said Breath of the Wild is going to be “a phenomenal way to break in your new Switch,” while Rich McCormick noted on The Verge that Nintendo’s managed to create an “open world that feels polished [with] survival elements that feel welcoming” while still making a game that feels “unmistakably Zelda.”

ZELDA games traditionally do very well at retail, and we expect Breath of the Wild to be no different. As the star title in the Switch launch line-up, it could easily be the best-selling title on Day One. It’s also likely to be the console’s first system-seller as well, especially among Nintendo fans who have been waiting for a new Zelda title ever since the Wii’s Skyward Sword in 2011.

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February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 16:41

FEATURES NINTENDO SWITCH GAMES

1-2-Switch

Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Distributor: Open Price: £39.99

WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND HOW WELL WILL IT DO?

WHEN 1-2-Switch producer Kouichi Kawamoto introduced the title on stage at Nintendo’s Switch Presentation event, he said the game “lets you enjoy the expressiveness of the JoyCon’s HD Rumble.” He added: “It’s a brand-new kind of game that mixes up new kinds of play.

You simply stand the Switch up, hand one Joy-Con to a friend, and just like that the place you’re in becomes the game world and everyone’s ready for fun.”

THERE’S been much debate over this title, with many arguing it should be bundled in. Still, most agree it’s a lot of fun, with the cow milking game being a big hit. IGN’s Daniel Krupa said it “showcases the eccentric charm of [Switch] unlike any other title,” while The Verge’s Sam Byford said “it’ll likely be popular at launch” even if it’s “not the kind of thing you’re going to sit down and play for hours.”

Polygon’s Allegra Frank “had [her] fill” after just 30 minutes, though.

AS one of two first party launch titles for Switch, this should be one of the console’s strongest Day One games. Nintendo’s in-house mini-game compilations have traditionally sold very well, with the Wii U’s Nintendo Land selling over 5m units to date. It’s also the only title that shows off just what the Switch is capable of, and consumers don’t even need to buy a separate controller in order to play it. Just like Breath of the Wild, it should be a big hit.

Skylanders: Imaginators

WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND HOW WELL WILL IT DO?

IMAGINATORS is a 2016 title but, on Switch, players can load and store their toys directly on the console with its new digital library.

Senior VP of Skylanders product management Josh Taub said the game’s “ignited the imaginations of fans” and that he’s “looking forward to supporting their experiences with Switch” with new toys and content this year.

THE title was well-received back in October, with a current average of 78 on Metacritic. Critics praised the ability to create your own Skylanders characters, with Trusted Reviews’ Stuart Andrews calling it “the most addictive Skylanders yet.” The Telegraph’s Olivia White also said it’s “an allround gem” that has “something to love here for everyone.”

DESPITE its positive reception, Skylanders sold just 66,000 units during its opening month, according to NPD data, and only reached 100,000 units after heavy Black Friday discounts.

However, with Switch version allowing gamers to play with their figures away from the TV, Imaginators may yet get a second wind come March 3rd.

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Developer: Toys for Bob Publisher: Activision Distributor: Centresoft Price: £54.99

www.mcvuk.com

22/02/2017 16:41

NINTENDO SWITCH GAMES FEATURES

Just Dance 2017

Developer: Ubisoft Publisher: Ubisoft Distributor: Exertis Price: £49.99

WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND HOW WELL WILL IT DO?

UBISOFT said Just Dance 2017 “is more fun and easier to play” thanks to its new controller app, which allows players to use their phone camera instead of a dedicated peripheral: “Get ready for amazing visuals and awesome dance moves that will ignite your house, pulling friends and family off the couch and into a music experience like no other.”

The Switch version also has the exclusive Calvin Harris track, How Deep Is Your Love.

THE game reviewed reasonably well on other platforms last October, garnering an average of 74 on Metacritic. PushSquare’s Sam Brooke said the game was “still solid” despite not really adding anything new to the series, and that the tracklist had “a lot of variation this year.”

The Express’ Liam Martin also stated the series was “fresh out of new ideas,” but that it “remains a great game to bust out at parties.”

JUST DANCE 2017 debuted at No.26 in the UK charts at launch, but with 44 per cent of those sales going to Wii owners (and a further 16 per cent sold on Wii U), it seems Nintendo fans are one of Ubisoft’s biggest Just Dance audiences.

With this in mind, Just Dance 2017 should do well on Switch, provided players haven’t already bought it before.

Super Bomberman R

WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAID...

WHAT THE PRESS SAID...

...AND HOW WELL WILL IT DO?

IT’S been seven years since Bomberman last came to home consoles, but Konami views its new Switch title as a way of reinventing its explosive party game for the modern day: “The simple rule remains the same, but Super Bomberman R’s coming back in a modern style with 3D stages and photoreal graphics.”

ONLY the title’s four-player Battle mode was available to play at preview, but Nintendo Life’s Lee Meyer said it “looks to be very charming, fun and accessible.”

IGN’s Alex Simmons, however, said there was “nothing to really differentiate it from previous Bomberman games” and that sharing the screen in tabletop mode “isn’t quite so appealing.”

WITH Bomberman having been absent from home consoles for such a long time, it remains to be seen whether Super Bomberman R will be able to draw in the same kind of audience it once did back in the day. Previous console titles have scored highly in the past, but with its recent mobile games falling flat, Super Bomberman R could be quite the slow burner.

www.mcvuk.com

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Developer: Konami, HexaDrive Publisher: Konami Distributor: Open Price: £49.99

February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 16:41

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21/02/2017 12:24

FEATURES AMAZON ALEXA

Talking heads: RuneScape comes to Alexa With millions of Alexa devices now in the hands of consumers, could the Amazon Echo be the next big gaming platform? Katharine Byrne chats with Amazon’s Rob Pulciani and Jagex’s Mark Ogilvie to find out how RuneScape went ‘headless’

W

e’ve seen plenty of surprise partnerships in the games industry over the years. Valve teamed up with phone maker HTC to create Vive, for example, and even the once staunchest of platform rivals, Nintendo and Sega, are now working side by side – except during the Olympics, of course.

But Jagex bringing RuneScape to Amazon’s voice-based Alexa engine? Now that’s something we didn’t see coming.

“We are always interested in exploring new tech, and bringing RuneScape to new audiences,” RuneScape’s design director Mark Ogilvie (below, right) tells MCV. “Since storytelling is such a core part of RuneScape, the promise of exploring its narrative on a completely different medium was too exciting to ignore.”

In case you’re unfamiliar with Alexa, it’s essentially Amazon’s answer to voice assistants like Siri, Cortana and Google Now and is currently found in Amazon’s range of Echo smart home devices. Soon, however, you’ll be able to interact

February 24th 2017

28 29 MCV909 Amazon_V3.indd 1

with Alexa and its library of apps (known as ‘skills’) from a host of third party platforms such as your car, fridge and even your light switch, making it a tempting prospect for games companies looking for a new, highlyengaged user base.

“There are millions of Alexa-enabled devices out there,” says Amazon’s director of the Alexa Skills Kit Rob Pulciani (below, far right), “and we recognised its gaming potential fairly early on.

“Initially, trivia skills were very popular, such as Jeopardy and The Magic Door, but when you have what we call a ‘headless device’ with no screen, you have a hard time imagining what games might look like. We’re so used to thinking about ‘screen-first’ titles, that’s why you need those lighthouse experiences to point the way for other groups. It’s exciting, and now that I’ve seen RuneScape, I think there’s high potential.”

FINDING YOUR VOICE In terms of getting the game onto Alexaenabled devices, all users have to do is download the free RuneScape Quests: One Piercing Note skill and ask Alexa to play it.

However, when there are over 9,000 skills

28

currently available, Amazon will need to address discoverability concerns if more games companies start publishing titles there.

“We relaunched the skills portion of the Alexa app last year, so it’s much easier to navigate now,” says Pulciani. “You can also use Amazon’s retail website to look through skills, and you can ask Alexa to recommend new ones. That’s important to us. It’s one thing using your phone to browse through apps, but with Alexa, you also want to discover things with your voice. Right now, it takes into account what’s popular and review ratings, but ultimately we want to make sure the most relevant skills are put in front of customers.”

For Jagex, its main marketing concern is getting Alexa into the hands of its existing user base: “We’re working closely with Amazon to market to their own customers, and we’re also running competitions with our own players to win Alexa-enabled devices,” he says.

“We’re also reaching out to tech publications about a platform that many wouldn’t have seen as a device for gaming, and I think it’s quite interesting to visually impaired gamers, too. So I’d certainly like to explore that angle in the future.”

www.mcvuk.com

22/02/2017 15:31

AMAZON ALEXA FEATURES

Marketing an Alexa game, then, is very much a joint effort, but the key question remaining is how companies will make money from it. For unlike other platforms, all skills are currently free to download and none of them use traditional advertising.

“Right now, monetising happens off of Alexa, mainly through account linking,” says Pulciani.

“We don’t monetise skills specifically, but we recognise that’s something that developers have asked us about.”

Fortunately for Jagex, it didn’t actually plan to monetise One Piercing Note, simply due to the experimental nature of the project: “It was a really quick project for us and we never had any intention to make money from it,” he says.

“It felt like a project to expand our own skills and dip a toe into a completely new platform.”

Instead, Amazon seems to be leaving it up to developers to decide how to monetise their games, with Pulciani suggesting that companies could potentially lead their users back to their main products through the skill itself.

Indeed, Ogilvie says that One Piercing Note already exists as a quest you can play in the main RuneScape game on PC, which is mentioned in the Alexa experience when players save their progress.

He also believes that giving developers the freedom to determine their own monetising structure will be beneficial in the long run.

“I think [leaving the decision to developers] is wise,” says Ogilvie.

“There are so many different approaches to monetising games.

Having the platform dictate how things should make money, rather than the developers who understand their product and audience, is dangerous.

“We’d originally intended to give out free membership to the ‘proper’ game after players completed the Alexa quest, or even earn some unique in-game items, but sadly we had to cut that due to some technical issues on both sides. I believe if we developed more on the platform, we’d definitely plan ahead for it.”

OFF WITH ITS HEAD WITH the Amazon Echo and its Alexa engine falling into the so called category of ‘headless devices’, designing a game for a platform without a screen presented Jagex with quite a number of challenges. RuneScape’s design director Mark Ogilvie explains: “In many ways it was liberating not being restricted by graphical budgets or the limitations of a graphics engine.

“Equally though, you have to spend much more effort setting the scene, like encouraging your voice actors to up their emotional delivery, or go the extra mile on environmental sound effects, so players have the right tools to measure the tone of the action. We also had to be even more aware of not letting the player feel like a passenger in the scenes, making sure the right level of agency was there even though they never hear themselves in the experience.”

The Echo is just one of Amazon’s Alexaenabled devices

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28 29 MCV909 Amazon_V3.indd 2

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Meanwhile, Pulciani’s main priority at the moment is creating the best-possible user experience for Alexa’s customers. Monetising structures will come later.

“We absolutely want to help developers create successful businesses around Alexa, but the first thing we’re doing is nailing the customer experience,” he says. “We have a roadmap over the next 12 months that we feel good about, but there’s nothing to share right now.”

That’s not to say Pulciani’s team isn’t in constant contact with developers, though, and Ogilvie seems confident that a solution will eventually be found: “After some early meetings I’m sure the Amazon tech guys we met left with ideas to explore for the future,” he says. “Hopefully the same will happen when it comes to monetisation, working with the skill developers to work out what systems work best for them, be it embedded ads, paid skills, subscription models, affiliate percentages or in-skill purchases.”

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE Despite its experimental origins, One Piercing Note has already been a success for Jagex. “[The reception] has been great,” says Ogilvie. “The majority of reviews have been incredibly positive.

Our own players have been vocal about what this might mean for the future of RuneScape stories, and I think Alexa customers are over the moon to see more top quality skills on offer.”

Where Alexa games will go in the future, however, is still up for debate. “The appetite’s there,” says Ogilvie. “I’d love to be able to explore new RuneScape stories on the device, particularly those that can support the huge narrative directions we’re exploring in the main game.

“I’m also excited about seeing just how far we can push Alexa.

Leveraging its voice recognition and AI potential to have her react to the player’s imagination, just like a table-top RPG dungeonmaster would, is really fascinating to us and I’d love to work on something like that.”

February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 15:31

FEATURES DISGAEA 5 COMPLETE

A complete Switch Disgaea 5 is coming to the Nintendo Switch this May in a ‘Complete’ edition.

Katharine Byrne sits down with senior associate producer Alan Costa to discuss how NIS America is bringing its renowned SPRG series to the new platform

Whether you’re looking for your first job or next career move, we’ve got the experience and industry know-how to find the perfect role for you. Hundreds of games jobs available now at

www.aswift.com 30 31 MCV909 Disgea_V4.indd 1

22/02/2017 18:15

DISGAEA 5 COMPLETE FEATURES

T

he Nintendo Switch is a platform of many firsts, but it will also be the first time Nippon Ichi Software’s Disgaea series has arrived on one of Nintendo’s home consoles.

The very first title in the strategy RPG franchise, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, arrived on the Nintendo DS back in April 2009 as Disgaea DS, but since then fans have had to look elsewhere (primarily to PlayStation consoles) in order to get their Disgaea fix.

Fortunately, this is about to change with the release of Disgaea 5: Complete, which MCV revealed last week was launching on May 26th.

The title originally appeared on PlayStation 4 back in October 2015, but now NIS America is bringing the latest entry in the series to Nintendo’s brand-new home console, allowing SRPG fans to play the game both at home and on the move.

“While Disgaea has generally come out on PlayStation platforms, it is a game that can be enjoyed on any hardware,” NIS America’s senior associate producer Alan Costa tells MCV. Any hardware, it seems, except the PlayStation Vita. www.mcvuk.com

30 31 MCV909 Disgea_V4.indd 2

“Souhei Niikawa, the president of our parent company Nippon Ichi Software, indicated that due to the game specs, it would be impossible to put [Disgaea 5] on Vita,” says Costa.

This might come as a surprise to long-standing Disgaea players, as nearly every mainline Disgaea title has, at some point, been ported to one of Sony’s handhelds, be it the PlayStation Portable or the PlayStation Vita.

A CUNNING DISGAEA This time, however, NIS America hopes to capture a new audience for Disgaea 5, which it plans to do using its social media channels and by showcasing the game at public events.

“Our approach in both [the UK and US] is to directly interact with fans via social media and event presence as well as to visit media directly to show off our games,” Costa explains.

“Being able to reach out to fans directly is paramount so we are much more proactive on community management and social media. We still have a ways to go, but our community engagement has greatly improved from what it was five years ago.”

Disgaea is a game that can be enjoyed on any hardware.

Alan Costa, NIS America

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As its ‘Complete’ moniker implies, the Switch version of Disgaea 5 will come with all the DLC content that’s already available on the PS4 version.

“Disgaea 5 Complete contains the base game of Disgaea 5 as well as all DLC scenarios of the original release,” says Costa. “This includes all new scenarios as well as bonus playable characters.

This adds many more hours of content and strategy to the base game as well as allowing series’ fans to enjoy their favourites from past games. We will definitely be emphasizing that all DLC can be found on the Switch version.”

NIS America will also be releasing a limited edition that includes the game, an artbook, a two-disc complete soundtrack, a zipper pull, and ten metal lapel pins. This will be distributed by its long-standing partner Reef Entertainment in the UK, alongside the base version of the game. UK pricing has yet to be confirmed for the limited edition, but it will be available to buy exclusively from the NISA Europe online store and the Nintendo UK store.

Costa adds: “We’re confident that fans will be excited to play the complete version of this legendary SRPG series.”

February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 18:15

REWARDING AND RECOGNISING THE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN IN THE UK GAMES INDUSTRY

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@MCVonline 17/02/2017 17:08

TOYS-TO-LIFE INSIGHT FEATURES

Are the toys coming back to life?

With Amiibo getting a boost from the Switch launch, Klosters Trading Corporation’s Lutz Muller argues that the toys-to-life market segment is far from dead and he has the numbers to back it up

I

t was pretty much to everybody’s surprise when Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, announced during the May 10, 2016, earnings call that they were pulling the plug on Infinity. This is how he explained this abrupt decision: “We did quite well with the first iteration of it, and we did okay with the second iteration. But that business is a changing business, and we did not have enough confidence in terms of it being stable enough to stay in it from a self-publishing perspective”.

When you see such obfuscation you know that there are probably some important unspoken reasons for this decision. Buyers speculate that it came down to a fight between two ideological factions within Disney - those that proposed building its own toy business versus those that wanted the company to keep on licensing off its IPs. The latter won.

However, Mr. Iger’s statement immediately led to speculation that the toys-to-life concept had had its chips and that it was only a matter of time until it would totally disappear. This belief was further strengthened by NPD’s October report suggesting that toys-to-life had finally collapsed given that the new Skylanders had only sold a tiny 66,000 units and was down 41 per cent.

Collapsed? Perhaps we should look at what the numbers say?

These 2016 numbers reflect sellthrough data generated by the Klosters Retailer Panel [made up of major US toy retailers] backed up by national buyer comments from major retailers on all continents. 2017 numbers reflect the expectations for the year by the same national buyers.

In other words, whilst sales clearly slowed down in 2016, you can hardly call this a collapse.

Also, when looking at the chart (see below), remember that the bars reflect retail sales in U.S. dollars. These are significantly deflated by the heavy clearance discounts retailers instituted since June last year to clear out Infinity inventories. Growth in units in 2016 was much higher than displayed here.

MARKET SHARE Looking at the US market share, Skylanders clearly took a hammering and this is also borne out by the various retail market share readings undertaken by the Klosters Retailer Panel.

Infinity’s market share of 11 per cent (see graph on next page) is misleading in that it represents a dollar position severely deflated by clearance discounts. In terms of unit market shares, Infinity is still at a pretty respectable 27 per cent.

Toys-to-life worldwide retail sales

U.S Dollars Million

3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Skylanders

Infinity

LEGO Fusion 2011

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2012

Amiibo 2013

LEGO Dimension Playmation 2014

2015 33

2016

Sick Bricks 2017

Total

Whilst toys-to-life sales clearly slowed down in 2016, you can hardly call this a collapse.

Lutz Muller, Klosters Trading Corporation

Another metric worth looking at is that of shelf space given to the toys-to-life category by US stores Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us (see chart on next page). This tells you two things. One is that toys-to-life have not collapsed if shelf space is anything to go by. These three retailers are not really known for their merciful compassion towards failing brands and the fact that they continue to give the category the same amount of shelf space as they did before the withdrawal of Infinity tells you something.

The second is that Skylanders continues to have the largest percentage of shelf space which suggests that the brand has too much inventory but is not, in the absence of really massive discounting, on the way out.

Yes, there is some discounting of Skylanders going on but it is largely limited to the Trap Team and Superchargers toys released in 2014 and 2015. In other words, the retailers are cleaning out old merchandise.

February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 14:37

FEATURES TOYS-TO-LIFE INSIGHT

TOY STORY

So, what is the outlook for the big players in the category this year?

AMIIBO Amiibo problems were to a large extent tied to its dependence on the ill-fated Wii U. And the company believes that the forthcoming release of the Nintendo Switch will change the equation for the better. The buyers expect the Switch to be very strong in 2017 and this will benefit Amiibo.

Over the long term, the buyers are more cautious in that they believe that the success or failure of the Switch will depend to a major degree on third-party content support which in turn will affect Amiibo. They expect the machine to sell 40 million units worldwide between March 2017 and end of December 2020 which compares with 15 million units for the Wii U between end of December 2012 and end of last year.

However, Amiibo continues to be at a disadvantage compared to Skylanders and LEGO Dimensions in that the range is (at least so far) limited to Nintendo consoles whereas its two competitors are playable on Playstation and Xbox, as well as on the Switch and the 3DS.

ACTIVISION Activision is not packing up. Firstly, they will launch Imaginators on Nintendo Switch in March. Further out, they intend to do two things - strengthen the Imaginators range with new characters and new content and support it with a follow-up of the Skylanders Academy [animated series in the] middle of this year. Also, we can expect a new Skylanders mobile game this fall.

In other words, Activision is not about to give up on one of their top money spinners even though the company has hit a rough spot of late. Also of interest is the fact that they are bringing Tim Kilpin on board to head their newly formed Consumer Products Division. As a toy veteran and coming from Disney and Mattel, he is likely to see Skylanders as the core of any retail product development.

LEGO LEGO, too, is charging ahead.

Supported by The LEGO Batman Movie which opened on February 10th with a very strong box office performance, the company has released a range of Batman Movie minifigures, the so-called Wave 7.5, which has already begun to move well. The next release, that of Wave 8, will take place in May. Buyers also tell me that they

expect to a significant product action from LEGO in September or October. So, LEGO, too, is not throwing in the towel.

Final take-away: one is that the toys-to-life category is not going quietly into the night. The second is that the category has matured after years of dizzying growth and is now far more in tune with the toy market overall.

The third is that the three main players - Skylanders, LEGO Dimensions and Amiibo - will stay in the game and that the real fight for dominance will be between Skylanders and LEGO. For more analysis of the toy market you can find the latest articles from Lutz Muller at seekingalpha.com/author/ lutz-muller or contact him via www.klosterstrading.com

Toys-to-life U.S market shares (Dollars) 80 in Percent of Total

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

4/2016

5/2016 Amiibo

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34

6/2016 Dimensions

7/2016

8/2016 Infinity

9/2016 Skylanders

1/2017

2/2017

Playmation

www.mcvuk.com

22/02/2017 14:37

DIRECTORY

WHO?

INSIDER’S GUIDE: Bits and Pixels Bits and Pixels’ co-director Su-Yina Farmer discusses Overwatch, eSports and reaching consumers in an increasingly digital era Tell us about your company.

We are a boutique licensing and brand extension agency specialising in games. We take game brands to exciting places, reaching new audiences in original and innovative ways.

Not just through bespoke, highly commercial and trend-savvy merchandise programmes, but with high-profile, relevant collaborations and events that really bring brands to life.

What was the thinking behind the launch of Bits and Pixels?

Video games are our passion, so we want to see these brands step outside of the gaming sphere and

into the wider cultural limelight, which we hope to achieve with intelligent and creative brand extension. As gamers, we want to ensure licensing programmes resonate with the fanbase, delivering deeper brand engagement, that always surprises and gets people talking.

major publishers at the moment – watch this space.

What are the biggest trends in the games industry affecting you right now?

The convenience of downloadable games - it’s more important than ever to offer physical merchandise that fans can covet. With our eyes set on the monumental rise of eSports, we are looking closely at how traditional sports extend their brands.

As for sequels and reboots, we’ll be looking to inject energy and trend savvy ideas into licensing programmes so these franchises attract fresh audiences.

What are working on right now?

We are thrilled to be working on Overwatch from Blizzard Entertainment. It’s such a stunning game with a whole universe expertly crafted around it.

We’re also working on some incredibly exciting (but top secret) collaborative projects with other

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February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 14:29

PUBLISHING, DEVELOPMENT & JOBS

PERIPHERALS, ACCESSORIES & MERCHANDISE DC Games Group Tel: +98 912 101 4090 www.doostan-co.co

Amiqus Tel: 01925 839 700 www.amiqus.com

Audio Motion Tel: 08701 600 504 www.audiomotion.com

Techland Tel: +48 506 688 384 www.techland.pl

Strawdog Studio Tel: 01332 258 395 www.strawdogstudios.com

RETAIL AND DISTRIBUTION

Creative Distribution Tel: 0208 664 3456 www.creativedistribution.co.uK

CREATIVE AGENCIES

Axis Animation Tel: 0203 457 0580 www.axisanimation.com

Gaming Merchandise Tel: 01562 823 261 www.gamingmerchandiseuk.com

Lime Tel: 0844 893 3933 www.limedistribution.co.uk

The Digi Monsters Ltd. Tel: 01926 350 141 www.thedigimonsters.com

Dimensional Imaging Tel: 0141 585 6481 www.di4d.com

MARKETING AND & PR

Sounding Sweet Tel: 01789 297 453 www.soundingsweet.com

Dead Good PR Tel: 07780 600 728 www.deadgoodmedia.com

Studio Diva Tel: 0117 214 0404 www.studiodiva.co.uk

TakeOff UK Tel: 0203 416 5131 www.takeoff.uk.com

TO LIST YOUR COMPANY HERE AND ONLINE EVERY WEEK PLEASE CONTACT CGIBBON@NBMEDIA.COM OR CALL 020 7354 6000 Games Guide DPS 2017 WEEK 5.indd 1

21/02/2017 12:33

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AGENCIES AND SERVICE COMPANIES

COMPANY PROFILE / STRAWDOG STUDIOS KEY CONTACTS: Email

Paul Smith, CEO paul@strawdogstudios.com

Derek Pettigrew, CTO derek@strawdogstudios.com

Phone

01332 258 395

Website

www.strawdogstudios.com

ADDRESS: The Penthouse, Friar Gate Studios, Ford Street, Derby, DE1 1EE,

STRAWDOG is a TIGA award winning and BAFTA/Develop nominated development studio delivering hand-crafted mobile game experiences for some of world’s biggest publishers and brands.

Our services cover everything from full game development to live ops and UX/UI design.

As well as making free-to-play games we also specialise in premium educational products for children with an aim to engage and delight. We build products for all popular distribution platforms and app stores and our team is experienced in the very latest monetisation models and metrics driven game design, and we love working with licensed products.

Whether it’s a large game built from scratch or an existing license, we can help you reach your audience and extend your brand onto the very latest generation of mobile and gaming platforms.

Strawdog are a high performing team, busy crafting the best games and applications for our clients and customers. We are a dynamic company with a strong work ethic and place high importance on great teamwork. Quality and delivery is at the very core of our business.

Visit strawdogstudios.com to find out more.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND MANY MORE ONLINE NOW AT:

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INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR GUIDE IN ASSOCIATION WITH

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTORS If you are looking for new partners overseas, then look no further

BELGIUM

CLD DISTRIBUTION Rue du Grand Champs 14 , B 5380 Fernelmont Belgium Tel: +32 81 83 02 02 Fax: +32 81 83 02 09 Email: infos@cld.be Web: www.cld.be home of www.dragonwar.eu & www.mawashi.eu

BRAZIL Sony Music Entertainment Brasil # 1 Physical Distributor in Brazil Rua Lauro Muller n°. 116 – 40°. Andar Salas 4001 a 4003 Botafogo Rio de Janeiro RJ CEP. 22.290-160 Tel. +55 21 2128-0771 Fax: +55 21 2128-0747 Email : rodrigo.altieri@sonymusic.com Website: www.sonymusic.com.br | www.day1e.com.br

IRAN

WORLDWIDE CLICK ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED Email: info@click-entertainment.com Web: www.click-entertainment.com Phone: +44 (0)203 137 3781

DC GAMES GROUP No.9, Hemmatian St., Takestan St., Sattarkhan Tehran, Iran Tel: +98-912-1014090 +98-21-44228670 Email: Bahizad@Doostan-Co.com Web: www.Doostan-Co.com

GAME OUTLET EUROPE AB PO Box 5083, S-650 05 Karlstad, Sweden Sales dept: ali.manzuri@gameoutlet.se Sales dept: andreas.lindberg@gameoutlet.se Purchase dept: hamed.manzuri@gameoutlet.se Purchase dept: david.nilsson@gameoutlet.se Web: www.gameoutlet.se

UAE ALESAYI UNITED COMPANY Video Games Distributor in the Middle East, P.O BOX 16999 Jebel Ali Free Zone Dubai U.A.E. Tel: 00971 4 883 5960 Fax: 00971 4 883 5175 Email: marketing@alesayi.ae U.A.E. Website: www.alesayi.ae Group Website: www.alesayi.com

MCV WORLDWIDE Editorial: + 61 (0)424 967 263 Leigh.Harris@mcvpacific.com

Advertising: + 61 (0)417 084821 Joel.Vandaal@mcvpacific.com

WWW.MCVPACIFIC.COM

MORE DISTRIBUTORS AUSTRALIA AFA Interactive, Bluemouth Interactive, Five Star Games, Mindscape, Namco Bandai Partners, Turn Left Distribution BENELUX CLD Distribution, Koch Media, Gameworld Distribution B.V. CANADA E One, Importel, Just4Games, Solutions 2 Go, Vidéoglobe CYPRUS Access, Gibareio, Zilos, Nortec Multimedia CZECH REPUBLIC Cenega, Conquest, Comgad, Playman, ABC Data DENMARK Bergsala, Elpa, Impulse, Koch Media, Nordisk Film Interactive, Nordic Game Supply, PAN Vision FRANCE Big Ben, Innelec, Koch Media, SDO, Sodifa GREECE Zegatron, CD Media, Namco Bandai Partners, IGE, Nortec, Enarxis, Beacon HUNGARY CNG.hu/Cenega Hungary, CTC Trading, Magnew, PlayON, Stadlbauer ICELAND Sena, Myndform, Samfilm, Ormsson INDONESIA Maxsoft, Uptron, Technosolution IRELAND MSE Group, Baumex JAPAN Ajioka, Happinet, Jesnet NORWAY Bergsala, Game Outlet, Koch Media, Nordic Game Supply, Nordisk Film, Pan Vision POLAND CD Projekt, Cenega, Galapagos, LEM PORTUGAL Ecoplay, Infocapital, Koch Media, Namco Bandai ROMANIA Best Distribution SERBIA ComTrade, Computerland/Iris Mega, Extreme CC SPAIN Digital Bros, Koch Media, Namco Bandai Partners, Nobilis SWEDEN Bergsala, Koch Media, Namco Bandai, Nordic Game Supply, PAN Vision, Wendros, Ztorm (digital) UAE Red Entertainment Distribution, Pluto Games (LS2 Pluto), Viva Entertainment, Gameplay Entertainment, Geekay Distribution

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CONTACT SJAQUES@NBMEDIA.COM February 24th 2017

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22/02/2017 15:26

DIRECTORY

FINK

CREATIVE

DISTRIBUTION

CLICK ENTERTAINMENT

Artworking Mastertronic Brand Identity Ukie Localisation Rising StarIdentity Games Artworking Mastertronic Brand Advertising BBFC Website Design Deep Artworking Mastertronic Brand Ukie Localisation Rising StarIdentity Games Silver Exhibition Illustration Ukie Localisation Rising Design Star Games Advertising BBFC Bethesda Website Deep Appynation Digital Media Design IntentMedia Advertising BBFC Bethesda Website Deep Silver Exhibition Illustration Charity GamesAid Banners Takeovers Silver Exhibition Bethesda Appynation Digital Media &Illustration IntentMedia Just Flight Konami Packaging Design Appynation Digital Media IntentMedia Charity GamesAid Banners & Takeovers Charity GamesAid Takeovers Konami PackagingBanners Design&Just Flight Konami Packaging Design Just Flight Email: info@finkcreative.com CREATIVE DISTRIBUTION

Tel: +44 (0) 208 6643456 ENARXIS DYNAMIC MEDIA

Web: www.finkcreative.com

Tel: +44 (0)203 137 3781

email: sales@click-entertainment.com

DISTRIBUTION CURVEBALL LEISURE Click_small_Ad_Mar_2016.indd 1

Web: www.creativedistribution.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1792 652521

DISTRIBUTION

SONY DADC

DISTRIBUTION 31/03/2016

11:31

Web: www.curveball-leisure.com DISTRIBUTION

Empowering your creative business

Tel: +44 207 361 8000 games@sonydadc.com

www.sonydadc.com

Tel: +302 1090 11900

Web: www.enarxis.eu

Tel: +44 (0) 207 462 6200

Web: www.sonydadc.com

MCV_100x75mm_1015V01.indd 1

www.mcvuk.com

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February 24th 2017

21/02/2017 12:30

DIRECTORY

LIME DISTRIBUTION

GAMING ACCESSORIES

Tel: 01622 845 161

Web: www.limedistribution.co.uk

ADVERTISE WITH US

WANT TO ADVERTISE IN OUR DIRECTORY?

CALL LESLEY MCDIARMID ON 020 7354 6000 OR EMAIL HER AT SJAQUES@NBMEDIA.COM

February 24th 2017

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21/02/2017 12:30

OFF THE RECORD

OFF THE RECORD GAMERAISERS COMIC RELIEF teamed up with Twitch this week to pit celebrities against gamers in Gameraisers.

Running throughout the week, Louis Smith, Dele Alli, Jaimie Laing and (MCV Awards 2017 host) Rob Beckett, amongst others, were pitted against streaming stars LT Zonda, Stodeh, MissEllaCronin and Spamfish. Through Comic Relief, the event was raising money for youth homelessness.

More details at: www. rednoseday.com/ gameraisers

YOOKA-LAYLEE MUSIC ON VINYL RETRO platformer YookaLaylee has taken another step down memory lane by releasing its soundtrack on vinyl – beloved audio format of hipsters and others who revere the past above all else. Worry not, though, it comes with a digital copy, too, so you can actually listen to it on a convenient player of your choice.

12 DAYS OF GAMESAID EVENT RAISED £950

BECOME A GAMESAID MEMBER

................

....................................................

PLAY YOUR PART BECOME A MEMBER AMBASSADOR TRUSTEE WWW.GAMESAID.ORG

www.mcvuk.com

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The ‘12 Days of GamesAid’ eBay promotion that ran from December 5th to December 18th has raised over £950. Items included, amongst others, a Deluxe Edition of Final Fantasy XV and artbook signed by game director Hajime Tabata.

..................

If you work in the industry, you can become a GamesAid member. Simply register on the site (address left) and you’ll get the events newsletter and become part of the GamesAid democracy - helping the organisation choose the charities it supports each year.

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GAMESAID RAISES £954,000 FOR CHARITY ..................

UK games industry charity GamesAid raised a massive £954,000 in the last year.

This was shared between ten different organisations, who each walked away with £95,400.

Over nine years, GamesAid has raised £2.7m.

February 24th 2017

22/02/2017 18:05

OFF THE RECORD

Green Man Gaming Asks...

With Zelda: Breath of the Wild getting a season pass, do you feel that season passes are good value, or do they just milk players for money? #GMGasks

Each week Green Man Gaming asks the Twitter community what they think about the biggest gaming topics trending today.

Tag your reply with #GMGasks to have your say!

Only milking if there’s missing elements from the core game.

Otherwise, they’re optional additional content.

It’s a practice Nintendo did not really need to adopt. Considering they like to go against the grain and do there own thing.

@Dapper_Bastard

@scottd4571

Nintendo definitely just milking players and deserve hell for it. Some others, like CD Projekt provide great value.

Depends on developers really. Some Season passes fail. But others are by far worth it. I’ve rarely been disappointed

@nagi603

@TohavRedborne

The content doesn’t look bad at all and if the Mario Kart 8 DLC is anything to go off of, it’s gonna be great.

They are only good when the DLCs are already out, as a means of buying the whole pack at a cheaper price than per parts.

@ThatFlint

@Bel_Arispocrita

CONTACTS Seth Barton

Sam Richwood

Editor sbarton@nbmedia.com

Designer srichwood@nbmedia.com

Katharine Byrne

James Marinos

News Editor kbyrne@nbmedia.com

Production Executive jmarinos@nbmedia.com

Marie Dealessandri Staff Writer mdealessandri@nbmedia.com

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Managing Director mburton@nbmedia.com

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Content Director awooden@nbmedia.com

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THE RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD Charlotte Knight GAME

Steve Moore Simply Games

Alison Mair Tesco

Joseph Danson Shop Direct

Don McCabe CHIPS

Gurdeep Hunjan Simon Urquhart Sainsbury’s Microsoft

NewBay Subscriptions: The Emerson Building 4-8 Emerson Street London - SE1 9DU Email: subscriptions@mcv.co.uk Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, NP12 2YA

Sarah Jasper The Hut

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Robert Lindsay Games Centre

Stephen Staley Robert Hennessy Paul Sulyok James Cooke Gameseek John Lewis Green Man Gaming Argos

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41 42 MCV909 Off The Record_V1.indd 2

MCV has an exclusive media partnership with Famitsu – Japan’s leading video games analyst and news source

Dermot Stapleton Niall Lawlor GameStop Get Games

ISSN: 1469-4832 Copyright 2017 MCV is published 48 times a year by NewBay Media Europe Ltd, The Emerson Building, 4th Floor, 4-8 Emerson Street, London SE1 9DU

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Emerson Studios, 4th Floor 4-8 Emerson Street London, SE1 9DU Newbay specialises in trade-dedicated print and digital publishing for entertainment and leisure markets. As well as MCV, Newbay publishes Develop, PCR, ToyNews, Music Week, MI Pro, Audio Pro International and BikeBiz. It also has two online-only brands: Mobile Entertainment, dedicated to the growing mass market smartphone sector, and Licensing. biz, for everyone in the global licensing industry. It also runs a number of events including the MCV Industry Excellence Awards, the London Games Conference and the Games Media Awards.

22/02/2017 18:05

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