Apple Inc has been on a blocking rampage for the last few weeks now. After blocking games from Facebook, Microsoft and Google, Apple Inc has now blocked the famous "Fortnite" from its App Store.

Apple Inc has claimed "Fortnite" was violating in-app purchases policy of its App Store, due to which the company had to block the game. Epic Games, game developer, has now decided to retaliate in more than one way.

Epic Games has first filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc asking for no monetary compensation, but urging it to end its in-app purchases policy, and accusing it to block competition — an accusation which has been made against the tech giant earlier too.&nbsp;"Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation. Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear," Epic said in its lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California.

This was Epic's legal way of handling the block. In addition to this, Epic Games took to social media to rally an online army against this block. Fortnite made a parody of Apple's 1984 introduction video and rolled out a video in which an Apple-shaped character is seen talking about the "anniversary of&nbsp;of the platform unification directives." The speech is interrupted when a woman fighter hurls a unicorn-head stick at the screen.

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The text at the end of the video reads, "Epic Games has defied the App Store monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming 1984." which is followed by "#FreeFortnite" — a hashtag which has started trending on Twitter too.

Apple, on the other hand, claims a direct payment feature rolled out on the Fortnite app earlier on Thursday as the violation.

"The fact that their (Epic) business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users," Apple said in a statement.

Apple believes Epic Games launched the payment feature in Fortnite&nbsp;with the "express intent of violating the App Store guidelines" after having had apps in the store for a decade.

Spotify, the music-streaming app, was the first one to come to Epic's support.&nbsp;"Apple`s unfair practices have disadvantaged competitors and deprived consumers for far too long," Spotify saidin a statement. "The stakes for consumers and app developers large and small couldn`t be higher and ensuring that the iOS platform operates competitively and fairly is an urgent task with far-reaching implications."

Apple Inc has been on a blocking rampage for the last few weeks now. After blocking games from Facebook, Microsoft and Google, Apple Inc has now blocked the famous "Fortnite" from its App Store.

Apple Inc has been on a blocking rampage for the last few weeks now. After blocking games from Facebook, Microsoft and Google, Apple Inc has now blocked the famous "Fortnite" from its App Store. Apple Inc has claimed "Fortnite" was violating in-app purchases policy of its App Store, due to which the company had to block the game. Epic Games, game developer, has now decided to retaliate in more than one way. Epic Games has first filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc asking for no monetary compensation, but urging it to end its in-app purchases policy, and accusing it to block competition — an accusation which has been made against the tech giant earlier too. "Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation. Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear," Epic said in its lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California. This was Epic's legal way of handling the block. In addition to this, Epic Games took to social media to rally an online army against this block. Fortnite made a parody of Apple's 1984 introduction video and rolled out a video in which an Apple-shaped character is seen talking about the "anniversary of of the platform unification directives." The speech is interrupted when a woman fighter hurls a unicorn-head stick at the screen. × The text at the end of the video reads, "Epic Games has defied the App Store monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming 1984." which is followed by "#FreeFortnite" — a hashtag which has started trending on Twitter too. Apple, on the other hand, claims a direct payment feature rolled out on the Fortnite app earlier on Thursday as the violation. "The fact that their (Epic) business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users," Apple said in a statement. Apple believes Epic Games launched the payment feature in Fortnite with the "express intent of violating the App Store guidelines" after having had apps in the store for a decade. Spotify, the music-streaming app, was the first one to come to Epic's support. "Apple`s unfair practices have disadvantaged competitors and deprived consumers for far too long," Spotify saidin a statement. "The stakes for consumers and app developers large and small couldn`t be higher and ensuring that the iOS platform operates competitively and fairly is an urgent task with far-reaching implications."

'Fortnite' makers to sue Apple Inc as #FreeFortnite trends with remake of 1984 video

Nintendo&rsquo;s Switch game console is finally up for sale now. The $299 unit, which works both at home and on the go, blends the Super Mario maker&#39;s history in the console and handheld device business with its fledgling mobile gaming strategy, which got a big brand win after Pokemon Go&#39;s success last summer.

Switch has a removable screen that lets players dock it at home and also use it on the go like a tablet with detachable controllers - called Joy-Con - on both sides. The idea is to give gamers a more immersive experience with realistic physical sensations matched to what is happening on-screen. A remote control feature means players can take their eyes away from the screen to face off.

There are only eight games available for the system initially, including a Legend of Zelda offering. But there are scores more in the pipeline, Nintendo has said.
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Kyoto-based Nintendo is aiming to move about two million Switch consoles in its first month. Strong demand for the new unit would help Nintendo move on from poor sales of Wii U, released in 2012.&nbsp;It marked a disappointing follow-up to the smash hit Wii, which sold over 100 million units worldwide after its launch a decade ago.

&quot;I&#39;ve been a Zelda fan for a long time so I really want to immerse myself in the universe as soon as possible,&quot; office worker Yoko Kosuge told AFP. &quot;I&#39;ve used my day off to come buy it and I&#39;ll try it as soon as I&#39;m home.&quot; Kosuge was amokg the 400-odd gamers queuing up at a major retailer in Tokyo&#39;s Ikebukuro district from early Friday morning.

&quot;This is the first time I&#39;ve bought a Nintendo console,&quot; said another eager gamer, 25-year-old Yuki Matsuzaki.

&quot;I purchased the PlayStation 4, but the appeal of this Nintendo unit is the action and storyline in the games.&quot;

An outlet of major electronics retailer Yodobashi Camera in Kawasaki near Tokyo said it has no extra stock to sell to customers who had not pre-ordered their units.

In past years, Nintendo has scored hits with traditional home&nbsp;consoles, such as the Nintendo 64, and portable devices like GameBoy and the DS handheld. &quot;Switch is probably one of the most important consoles for Nintendo in the past decades,&quot; said Serkan Toto, a Tokyo-based games industry consultant.
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&quot;It&#39;s the first time where Nintendo basically combines portable games and home console games into one device.&quot; 
But trying to score a win in two different markets has risks, Toto added.

&quot;Some people could say that Nintendo is trying to kill two birds with one stone and that it could actually land in the middle and not really catch any of the target groups,&quot; he said. Nintendo&#39;s Tokyo-listed stock jumped 3.6 per cent on Friday.

The company has been under pressure to fix its weak finances - revenue has been falling for years - as it goes head to head with console maker rivals&nbsp;Microsoft and Sony, which has racked up huge sales of its PlayStation 4. 
More than 53 million units of the PS4 have been sold globally since its debut in late 2013.

In a bid to revive its fortunes, Nintendo abandoned a long-held consoles-only policy and decided to enter the smartphone game market.

Last year, the Donkey Kong maker released &quot;Miitomo&quot; - a free-to-play and interactive game. It scored another hit with the Pokemon Go app released in July, but the impact on profits will be limited as Nintendo did not actually develop the game.

In December, Nintendo released the Super Mario Run game for iPhones, which topped download charts and drew tens of millions of downloads.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Switch has a removable screen that lets players dock it at home and also use it on the go like a tablet with detachable controllers

Nintendo’s Switch game console is finally up for sale now. The $299 unit, which works both at home and on the go, blends the Super Mario maker's history in the console and handheld device business with its fledgling mobile gaming strategy, which got a big brand win after Pokemon Go's success last summer. Switch has a removable screen that lets players dock it at home and also use it on the go like a tablet with detachable controllers - called Joy-Con - on both sides. The idea is to give gamers a more immersive experience with realistic physical sensations matched to what is happening on-screen. A remote control feature means players can take their eyes away from the screen to face off. There are only eight games available for the system initially, including a Legend of Zelda offering. But there are scores more in the pipeline, Nintendo has said. Kyoto-based Nintendo is aiming to move about two million Switch consoles in its first month. Strong demand for the new unit would help Nintendo move on from poor sales of Wii U, released in 2012. It marked a disappointing follow-up to the smash hit Wii, which sold over 100 million units worldwide after its launch a decade ago. "I've been a Zelda fan for a long time so I really want to immerse myself in the universe as soon as possible," office worker Yoko Kosuge told AFP. "I've used my day off to come buy it and I'll try it as soon as I'm home." Kosuge was amokg the 400-odd gamers queuing up at a major retailer in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district from early Friday morning. "This is the first time I've bought a Nintendo console," said another eager gamer, 25-year-old Yuki Matsuzaki. "I purchased the PlayStation 4, but the appeal of this Nintendo unit is the action and storyline in the games." An outlet of major electronics retailer Yodobashi Camera in Kawasaki near Tokyo said it has no extra stock to sell to customers who had not pre-ordered their units. In past years, Nintendo has scored hits with traditional home consoles, such as the Nintendo 64, and portable devices like GameBoy and the DS handheld. "Switch is probably one of the most important consoles for Nintendo in the past decades," said Serkan Toto, a Tokyo-based games industry consultant. "It's the first time where Nintendo basically combines portable games and home console games into one device." But trying to score a win in two different markets has risks, Toto added. "Some people could say that Nintendo is trying to kill two birds with one stone and that it could actually land in the middle and not really catch any of the target groups," he said. Nintendo's Tokyo-listed stock jumped 3.6 per cent on Friday. The company has been under pressure to fix its weak finances - revenue has been falling for years - as it goes head to head with console maker rivals Microsoft and Sony, which has racked up huge sales of its PlayStation 4. More than 53 million units of the PS4 have been sold globally since its debut in late 2013. In a bid to revive its fortunes, Nintendo abandoned a long-held consoles-only policy and decided to enter the smartphone game market. Last year, the Donkey Kong maker released "Miitomo" - a free-to-play and interactive game. It scored another hit with the Pokemon Go app released in July, but the impact on profits will be limited as Nintendo did not actually develop the game. In December, Nintendo released the Super Mario Run game for iPhones, which topped download charts and drew tens of millions of downloads. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Finally, Nintendo Switch game console goes on sale at $299

Nintendo will launch the Switch, its first new game console in about four years, on March 3 for $299.99 in the United States and 29,980 yen in Japan, said the video game maker.

Nintendo shares were down as much as 3 per cent after the announcement, falling from 25,085 yen beforehand to as low as 24,365 yen in afternoon trade - 3.3 per cent lower than Thursday&#39;s closing price. That compared with a 0.8 per cent gain in the benchmark Nikkei 225 share price index.

Nintendo, which began by making playing cards in the late 19th century, is counting on the Switch to revive its earnings which rely heavily on console sales.
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Its Wii console, which debuted in 2006, captured casual gamers with popular fitness and sports features, propelling Nintendo&#39;s profit to record highs.

But the succeeding Wii U flopped due to a dearth of popular game titles and a consumer migration to smartphone games, pushing the company into a loss for three consecutive years through March 2014.

Analysts said the Switch is likely to offer a richer game lineup than its predecessor as the new console is powered by processor chips based on game developer-friendly architecture by designer ARM.

&nbsp;

Sony PS4 showdown

Switch will be crucial for Nintendo, which needs a hit product to offset the flagging fortunes of the Wii U and 3DS, as rival Sony racks up huge sales of the PS4 - it has sold more than 50 million units globally since its debut in late 2013.

In November, Sony started selling the $400 PS4 Pro, which promises even sharper graphics than earlier versions.

After struggling to fix its weak finances, Nintendo abandoned a long-held consoles-only policy and decided to enter the smartphone game market.

Last year, the Super Mario and Donkey Kong maker released &quot;Miitomo&quot; - a free-to-play and interactive game - as it tries to compete in an industry that has increasingly gone online.

It scored another hit with the Pokemon Go app released in July, but the impact on Nintendo&#39;s profits will be limited.

The company is the creator of the Pokemon franchise but does not own the licence for the game, which was developed and distributed by US-based Niantic, a spinoff of Google.

Last month, Nintendo released the Super Mario Run game for iPhones, which topped download charts and drew more than 40 million downloads globally in the first four days after its release, according to the company.

But analysts warned its popularity could be hampered by a relatively high $10 price tag for access to the full game, since many online offerings are free.

(WION with inputs from Agencies)

Switch will go head to head with rival Sony's hugely popular PlayStation 4

Nintendo will launch the Switch, its first new game console in about four years, on March 3 for $299.99 in the United States and 29,980 yen in Japan, said the video game maker. Nintendo shares were down as much as 3 per cent after the announcement, falling from 25,085 yen beforehand to as low as 24,365 yen in afternoon trade - 3.3 per cent lower than Thursday's closing price. That compared with a 0.8 per cent gain in the benchmark Nikkei 225 share price index. Nintendo, which began by making playing cards in the late 19th century, is counting on the Switch to revive its earnings which rely heavily on console sales. Its Wii console, which debuted in 2006, captured casual gamers with popular fitness and sports features, propelling Nintendo's profit to record highs. But the succeeding Wii U flopped due to a dearth of popular game titles and a consumer migration to smartphone games, pushing the company into a loss for three consecutive years through March 2014. Analysts said the Switch is likely to offer a richer game lineup than its predecessor as the new console is powered by processor chips based on game developer-friendly architecture by designer ARM. Sony PS4 showdown Switch will be crucial for Nintendo, which needs a hit product to offset the flagging fortunes of the Wii U and 3DS, as rival Sony racks up huge sales of the PS4 - it has sold more than 50 million units globally since its debut in late 2013. In November, Sony started selling the $400 PS4 Pro, which promises even sharper graphics than earlier versions. After struggling to fix its weak finances, Nintendo abandoned a long-held consoles-only policy and decided to enter the smartphone game market. Last year, the Super Mario and Donkey Kong maker released "Miitomo" - a free-to-play and interactive game - as it tries to compete in an industry that has increasingly gone online. It scored another hit with the Pokemon Go app released in July, but the impact on Nintendo's profits will be limited. The company is the creator of the Pokemon franchise but does not own the licence for the game, which was developed and distributed by US-based Niantic, a spinoff of Google. Last month, Nintendo released the Super Mario Run game for iPhones, which topped download charts and drew more than 40 million downloads globally in the first four days after its release, according to the company. But analysts warned its popularity could be hampered by a relatively high $10 price tag for access to the full game, since many online offerings are free. (WION with inputs from Agencies)

Switch: Nintendo announces availability and price details of its new game console

Flush with the stunning popularity of the Pokemon GO mobile game, Nintendo&nbsp;aims to make more from marketing popular characters such as Super Mario, taking a leaf from the Walt Disney&nbsp;playbook where Mickey Mouse and friends bring in billions of merchandising dollars each year.

But, where Disney&#39;s animated characters often earn more than the films they star in, Super Mario, Pokemon and other Nintendo franchises have languished amid the Japanese firm&#39;s reluctance to push them beyond its struggling game console platform.

The success of Pokemon GO - created by Nintendo, Pokemon Company and Niantic, a Google&nbsp;spinoff - may signal that Nintendo&#39;s move to let its characters roam beyond that console universe could help revitalise a company that had grown from a card game maker in nineteenth century Kyoto to the world&#39;s top computer game and console maker.

&quot;We are now expanding how we leverage Nintendo IP in various ways beyond our traditional use of them predominantly within the dedicated video game platform business,&quot; Tatsumi Kimishima, the company&#39;s president, wrote in a message to investors.

It could be sitting on a goldmine.

&quot;We believe the value of Nintendo intellectual property is enormous and will eventually be unlocked over a 3-5 year period,&quot; Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal wrote in a Monday research note.

A spokesman for Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy&nbsp;said: &quot;We are seeing a resurgence of interest in Pokemon toys after the launch of Pokemon GO.&quot;

Nintendo, which yesterday partly blamed a strengthening yen for its April-June operating loss, is said to be doing more to expand the reach of its popular franchise characters, which also include The Legend of Zelda.

&quot;Nintendo used to have only few people in its licensing business and deal only with a limited number of merchandising companies,&quot; said a toy company official, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to talk to the media. &quot;That&#39;s gradually changing as the company has made it clear it will boost its IP business.&quot;

Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the puppet-inspired Super Mario, has indicated Nintendo has more appetite now to allow its franchise characters to spread beyond console gaming, and into revenue generating licensing agreements.

&quot;These projects will take time to bear fruit, but they are something to look forward to,&quot; Miyamoto told Nintendo&#39;s shareholder meeting late last month, adding Nintendo had started licensing characters for attractions at Universal Studios theme parks and was working to expand Nintendo products.

Faded Wii

Since its Wii game console boom faded four years ago and its successor, the Wii U, flopped, Nintendo has been buffeted by losses that have more than halved its cash pile to around $5 billion.

Nintendo sold almost 100 million of its Wii consoles between its late-2006 launch and end-2011, the year before the Wii U was released. Subsequent sales of the Wii U have added only 13 million units. As casual gaming has shifted from the living room to the smartphone, sales of its handheld 3DS video game system are just a third of the older DS model.

Wary of losing focus on its ailing console business, Nintendo has largely steered clear from producing games for other platforms or agreeing lucrative licensing agreements.

In the year to end-March, the company&#39;s licensing revenue was just $54.2 million&nbsp;- around 1 per cent of overall sales, and a tiny fraction of what Disney earns from the likes of Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Winnie the Pooh and, more recently, Star Wars.

Disney&#39;s revenue from consumer products - from Mickey Mouse tea pots and tie clips to books, magazines and even English language schools in China - totalled $4.5 billion in its last full business year - around 9 per cent of its total sales.

It was Disney&#39;s fastest growing business segment in the year to Oct. 3, 2015, with operating profit up 29 per cent from a year earlier. While the Toy Story 3 movie, released in 2010, earned Disney $1.7 billion at cinemas and from TV broadcasts, the franchise&#39;s licensed toys, books and a smartphone app have brought in $7.3 billion.

That&#39;s a merchandising masterclass that some investors reckon Nintendo will struggle to match.

&quot;Monetising IP is a whole different thing from selling games,&quot; said a fund manager at a Japanese asset management firm which owns Nintendo shares.

&quot;They say they&#39;re going to sell a wrist watch, but it&#39;s adults who are playing Pokemon GO&nbsp;and are they going to wear a Pokemon GO Plus watch?&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Nintendo?aims to make more from marketing popular characters like Mario to revitalise a company struggling with its game console platform

Flush with the stunning popularity of the Pokemon GO mobile game, Nintendo aims to make more from marketing popular characters such as Super Mario, taking a leaf from the Walt Disney playbook where Mickey Mouse and friends bring in billions of merchandising dollars each year. But, where Disney's animated characters often earn more than the films they star in, Super Mario, Pokemon and other Nintendo franchises have languished amid the Japanese firm's reluctance to push them beyond its struggling game console platform. The success of Pokemon GO - created by Nintendo, Pokemon Company and Niantic, a Google spinoff - may signal that Nintendo's move to let its characters roam beyond that console universe could help revitalise a company that had grown from a card game maker in nineteenth century Kyoto to the world's top computer game and console maker. "We are now expanding how we leverage Nintendo IP in various ways beyond our traditional use of them predominantly within the dedicated video game platform business," Tatsumi Kimishima, the company's president, wrote in a message to investors. It could be sitting on a goldmine. "We believe the value of Nintendo intellectual property is enormous and will eventually be unlocked over a 3-5 year period," Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal wrote in a Monday research note. A spokesman for Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy said: "We are seeing a resurgence of interest in Pokemon toys after the launch of Pokemon GO." Nintendo, which yesterday partly blamed a strengthening yen for its April-June operating loss, is said to be doing more to expand the reach of its popular franchise characters, which also include The Legend of Zelda. "Nintendo used to have only few people in its licensing business and deal only with a limited number of merchandising companies," said a toy company official, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to talk to the media. "That's gradually changing as the company has made it clear it will boost its IP business." Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the puppet-inspired Super Mario, has indicated Nintendo has more appetite now to allow its franchise characters to spread beyond console gaming, and into revenue generating licensing agreements. "These projects will take time to bear fruit, but they are something to look forward to," Miyamoto told Nintendo's shareholder meeting late last month, adding Nintendo had started licensing characters for attractions at Universal Studios theme parks and was working to expand Nintendo products. Faded Wii Since its Wii game console boom faded four years ago and its successor, the Wii U, flopped, Nintendo has been buffeted by losses that have more than halved its cash pile to around $5 billion. Nintendo sold almost 100 million of its Wii consoles between its late-2006 launch and end-2011, the year before the Wii U was released. Subsequent sales of the Wii U have added only 13 million units. As casual gaming has shifted from the living room to the smartphone, sales of its handheld 3DS video game system are just a third of the older DS model. Wary of losing focus on its ailing console business, Nintendo has largely steered clear from producing games for other platforms or agreeing lucrative licensing agreements. In the year to end-March, the company's licensing revenue was just $54.2 million - around 1 per cent of overall sales, and a tiny fraction of what Disney earns from the likes of Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Winnie the Pooh and, more recently, Star Wars. Disney's revenue from consumer products - from Mickey Mouse tea pots and tie clips to books, magazines and even English language schools in China - totalled $4.5 billion in its last full business year - around 9 per cent of its total sales. It was Disney's fastest growing business segment in the year to Oct. 3, 2015, with operating profit up 29 per cent from a year earlier. While the Toy Story 3 movie, released in 2010, earned Disney $1.7 billion at cinemas and from TV broadcasts, the franchise's licensed toys, books and a smartphone app have brought in $7.3 billion. That's a merchandising masterclass that some investors reckon Nintendo will struggle to match. "Monetising IP is a whole different thing from selling games," said a fund manager at a Japanese asset management firm which owns Nintendo shares. "They say they're going to sell a wrist watch, but it's adults who are playing Pokemon GO and are they going to wear a Pokemon GO Plus watch?" (Reuters)

Nintendo's Mario to get a merchandising makeover

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