Android users will need to wait 3 months for 'Super Mario Run' after iOS-exclusive debut

AppleInsider

The extremely popular Super Mario Run will soon end its iOS App Store exclusivity with Nintendo advising it will be bringing the game to Android sometime in March, three months after it launched on the iPhone and iPad.

Nintendo posted on Twitter that it is going to make Super Mario Run available for Android through Google Play in March this year, though not an exact date of when it will go live. Just as with the iOS launch, potential players can sign up for notifications for when the game can be downloaded.

The three-month delay between the iOS and Android launches of Super Mario Run stems from issues with security and piracy, which Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto revealed concerns about in an interview. The game's requirement for an always-on Internet connection also assists in mitigating the risk of piracy, as well as providing asynchronous multiplayer elements.

It is highly probable that the Android version of Super Mario Run will share all the graphics and features as the iOS version. The Unity engine was used to in the game's production, allowing it to be produced for multiple platforms at the same time while keeping feature parity across both iOS and Android releases.

The auto-running platform game with a simple control system has been highly successful, and profitable, since its iOS launch in December. It quickly reached the highest position in Apple's Top Free Apps and Top Grossing Apps leaderboards within hours of launch, though it has since dropped down in both charts.

Unlike typical free-to-play games, which offer advantages to players in microtransactions, Super Mario Run instead provides the first part of the game and multiplayer free. A $9.99 in-app purchase provides access to all the remaining levels, as well as more multiplayer tickets.

cali

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

metriacanthosaurus

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

That's an interesting idea. It would certainly stave off the eventual and inevitable bankruptcy. Maybe they should just wait until then to get a good price.

They obviously have some good developers and good creative people at Nintendo. Unfortunately they have typical Japanese leadership driving the ship right into the ground.

rayz2016

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

It will be interesting to see how much money they make on the Android platform compared to iOS. 

slurpy

Rayz2016 said:

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

It will be interesting to see how much money they make on the Android platform compared to iOS. 

Won't even be a fraction, especially considering that the hype train would have completed dissipated by then (it already has). Mario run sales on iOS were spurred by massive media and social coverage. Won't be the case for Android launch.

maestro64

Does Nintendo really think Android users will shell out $10 for game, we talk about a whole group of users who think they should not have to pay for stuff on the phones. Would be interested to see the numbers on this, but all we will see is companies like IDC making up % to tell a story.

ericthehalfbee

$10 to buy this game? That's like, 20% of what I paid for my phone.

boltsfan17

Metriacanthosaurus said:

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

That's an interesting idea. It would certainly stave off the eventual and inevitable bankruptcy. Maybe they should just wait until then to get a good price.

They obviously have some good developers and good creative people at Nintendo. Unfortunately they have typical Japanese leadership driving the ship right into the ground.

You can say that again. It's a shame the way Nintendo is as a company, although I do thank them for their major blunder that created one of the most successful gaming systems of all time, the Sony Playstation. Nintendo has been headed downhill for a while. I thought the only person that could possibly save them was Satoru Iwata, but unfortunately he died in 2015. 

soli

Metriacanthosaurus said:

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

That's an interesting idea. It would certainly stave off the eventual and inevitable bankruptcy. Maybe they should just wait until then to get a good price.

They obviously have some good developers and good creative people at Nintendo. Unfortunately they have typical Japanese leadership driving the ship right into the ground.

Like Apple, people like to say that Nintendo is doomed and expect a brand new product from them constantly. Why are these companies held to a different standard? Nintendo continues to have amazing hits, and Switch looks like it's going to sell better than any other console they've ever made. Even NES Classic demand outstrips supply many months after launching. So why do you think Nintendo has bankruptcy on horizon, or is that a comment about Apple soon going to run out of money because they have no ideas?

soli

I wonder if there's really a 3 month exclusivity for iOS, or if it just takes a lot longer to write and test a game for the Android platform.

herbivore2

It will be interesting to see if this game ever truly makes it to the Android platform. And even more interesting to see how it peforms in that fragmented mess of a market. Most iOS users are on the most modern version. Android is chaotic and fragmented. 

Maybe it will come to the Pixel only and further incense the Android OEMs who will pursue Android alternatives with even greater vigor. 

Huawei is only the first. Google had better hope that the Pixel takes off. Because Google assistant is about to get slaughtered. I have an Echo and new skills are being developed at an enormous pace. Developers for Google assistant just aren't there.

Google is about to lose control of its own platform and those advertising dollars will be disappearing fast. Amazon's App Store is just as nice as Google play and can do far more. 

It's coming: 
https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/05/huawei-to-pre-load-amazons-alexa-on-us-version-of-its-mate-9-flagship/

ericthehalfbee

Soli said:

Metriacanthosaurus said:

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

That's an interesting idea. It would certainly stave off the eventual and inevitable bankruptcy. Maybe they should just wait until then to get a good price.

They obviously have some good developers and good creative people at Nintendo. Unfortunately they have typical Japanese leadership driving the ship right into the ground.

Like Apple, people like to say that Nintendo is doomed and expect a brand new product from them constantly. Why are these companies held to a different standard? Nintendo continues to have amazing hits, and Switch looks like it's going to sell better than any other console they've ever made. Even NES Classic demand outstrips supply many months after launching. So why do you think Nintendo has bankruptcy on horizon, or is that a comment about Apple soon going to run out of money because they have no ideas?

Have you looked at Nintendo revenues/profits over the last 10 years?

From a high of $18.7 billion revenue in 2009 to only $4.5 billion for 2015 and 2016.

soli

ericthehalfbee said:

Soli said:

Metriacanthosaurus said:

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

That's an interesting idea. It would certainly stave off the eventual and inevitable bankruptcy. Maybe they should just wait until then to get a good price.

They obviously have some good developers and good creative people at Nintendo. Unfortunately they have typical Japanese leadership driving the ship right into the ground.

Like Apple, people like to say that Nintendo is doomed and expect a brand new product from them constantly. Why are these companies held to a different standard? Nintendo continues to have amazing hits, and Switch looks like it's going to sell better than any other console they've ever made. Even NES Classic demand outstrips supply many months after launching. So why do you think Nintendo has bankruptcy on horizon, or is that a comment about Apple soon going to run out of money because they have no ideas?

Have you looked at Nintendo revenues/profits over the last 10 years?

From a high of $18.7 billion revenue in 2009 to only $4.5 billion for 2015 and 2016.

Nintendo has been around since the 19th century with drastic ups and downs, yet despite this unusual notion that they'll never have another successful product, they continue to survive. So why now? Why will Switch fail? Why will go under this time?

edited January 2017

spice-boy

Poor them, in three months they get to download, play and delete the following day. 

boltsfan17

Soli said:

Metriacanthosaurus said:

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

That's an interesting idea. It would certainly stave off the eventual and inevitable bankruptcy. Maybe they should just wait until then to get a good price.

They obviously have some good developers and good creative people at Nintendo. Unfortunately they have typical Japanese leadership driving the ship right into the ground.

Like Apple, people like to say that Nintendo is doomed and expect a brand new product from them constantly. Why are these companies held to a different standard? Nintendo continues to have amazing hits, and Switch looks like it's going to sell better than any other console they've ever made. Even NES Classic demand outstrips supply many months after launching. So why do you think Nintendo has bankruptcy on horizon, or is that a comment about Apple soon going to run out of money because they have no ideas?

Nintendo hasn't had an amazing hit in years. They completely bungled the NES Classic release. Nintendo didn't make hardly any NES Classic Editions. No way the Switch is going to outsell other consoles they've made. For one, the Switch is way too pricey. The accessories needed cost a ton. There are hardly any games at launch for the Switch and the lack of third party support is going to hurt the console. Knowing Nintendo, there will hardly be any Switch consoles available to purchase in stores for many months. It took the Wii over a year before they were readily available in stores. The Switch is a slightly better version of the Wii U, which was a complete failure. Another knock on the Switch is Nintendo is going to start charging for online play. Most people are already paying Microsoft or Sony to play games online. I doubt many will pay for another system. I would hate to see Nintendo fail, but they are heading that way. 

soli

boltsfan17 said:

Soli said:

Metriacanthosaurus said:

cali said:

"Issues with security and privacy"

Good luck Miyamoto, nothing in ThiefLand has changed.

really wish Apple would just acquire this company. 

That's an interesting idea. It would certainly stave off the eventual and inevitable bankruptcy. Maybe they should just wait until then to get a good price.

They obviously have some good developers and good creative people at Nintendo. Unfortunately they have typical Japanese leadership driving the ship right into the ground.

Like Apple, people like to say that Nintendo is doomed and expect a brand new product from them constantly. Why are these companies held to a different standard? Nintendo continues to have amazing hits, and Switch looks like it's going to sell better than any other console they've ever made. Even NES Classic demand outstrips supply many months after launching. So why do you think Nintendo has bankruptcy on horizon, or is that a comment about Apple soon going to run out of money because they have no ideas?

Nintendo hasn't had an amazing hit in years. They completely bungled the NES Classic release. Nintendo didn't make hardly any NES Classic Editions. No way the Switch is going to outsell other consoles they've made. For one, the Switch is way too pricey. The accessories needed cost a ton. There are hardly any games at launch for the Switch and the lack of third party support is going to hurt the console. Knowing Nintendo, there will hardly be any Switch consoles available to purchase in stores for many months. It took the Wii over a year before they were readily available in stores. The Switch is a slightly better version of the Wii U, which was a complete failure. Another knock on the Switch is Nintendo is going to start charging for online play. Most people are already paying Microsoft or Sony to play games online. I doubt many will pay for another system. I would hate to see Nintendo fail, but they are heading that way. 

So the NES Classic outsells in 30 days what took the Wii 6 months to accomplish, and is Nintendo's fastest selling game console as a result, yet you claim it's "bungled" because demand outstrips supply. I bet you wouldn't call it a success if they couldn't sell every unit they can make. Again, why is Nintendo at death's door?

edited January 2017

evilution

"iOS exclusive" usually appears just before some anti-trust court action bullshit.