Super Mario might be running, but a hefty price tag for a mobile game just won’t fly with the masses.
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The world so far is underwhelmed by Super Mario Run, which Nintendo released for the iPhone last week. This is no Pokemon Go, which captivated millions of players in their quest to collect digital monsters at real-world locations. Nintendo’s stock price has fallen 7 percent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since the game’s Dec. 15 launch, and the game is rated just 2.5 stars out of 5 on the iPhone app store.
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The problem, it seems, is not with the quality or design of Super Mario Run. Both are top notch, with enough elements of classic Mario to satisfy old-school Nintendo fans, alongside mobile-friendly features such as the ability to play with one hand.
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Rather, Nintendo’s overly optimistic $10 price tag, as well as an inexplicable requirement for players to be constantly connected to the internet while playing, could be enough to turn off all but the most hardcore fans.
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As of Monday, Mario Run was the top free app on iTunes. This, of course, is misleading, as the app isn’t free if you want to play beyond a few minutes.
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Audacious Price Tag
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Ten dollars is too much for a latte and too much for a mobile game, even if it comes with truffle shavings in the case of the latte and the world’s best known video game character in the case of Super Mario Run.
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Players can download the game for free and play three of the 24 available worlds. This takes only a few minutes and leaves one extremely unsatisfied. It’s like dining at a pricey restaurant knowing you can only afford the appetizer.
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THE FIX: Nintendo should slash the price in half and offer more content for free, says Jordan Edelson, CEO of Appetizer…