Nintendo Marketing Mix

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Introduction

Nintendo is a major name in the world of gaming. It is a leading video game brand and a major name in the field of home entertainment. Nintendo and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and sell entertainment products. Products created by Nintendo include dedicated video game platforms, playing cards, Karuta & other products. The dedicated video game platforms include hardware and software for handheld systems and home consoles. The company is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It is mainly engaged in development of hardware and software for gaming systems with support from companies and organisations around the world.  

Product:

Nintendo has brought a large line of gaming hardware and software. Gaming hardware created by Nintendo include Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 2 DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, Game Boy, Game Cube and more. The company has also created  a large series of video games that include Super Mario Bros, Fitness Boxing, Travis Strikes Again and Mario & Luigi. Some of the mobile games created by Nintendo include Dragalia Lost, Fire Emblem Heroes, Super Mario Run, Animal Crossing and Miitomo. It has brought games for all age groups from early childhood to teen and mature players. Some of the most famous characters created by Nintendo include Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Pokemon, Mii and Kirby. The types of games Nintendo has created include action & adventure, role playing, puzzle & strategy, music & fitness, sports & racing etc. The company offers  around 3,750 action and adventure games. It has also created educational games for kids. 

List of gaming consoles released by Nintendo –

  • 1986 – Nintendo Entertainment System.
  • 1990 – Gameboy
  • 1992 – Super game boy.
  • 1997 – Nintendo64.
  • 1998 – Game Boy Color.
  • 2001 – Gameboy Advance.
  • 2002 – Pokemon Mini.
  • 2003 – Nintendo gamecube.
  • 2005 – Nintendo DS, Gameboy Micro.
  • 2006 – Wii.
  • 2009 – Nintendo DS.
  • 2010 – Nintendo DS XL.
  • 2011 – Nintendo 3DS.
  • 2012 – Nintendo 3DS XL, Wii.
  • 2013 – Wii mini, Nintendo 2DS.
  • 2015 – New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL.

Place:

Nintendo’s headquarters are in Kyoto, Japan. However, it has regional offices in other parts of world too. Its Europe headquarters are in Germany. There are Nintendo regional offices in various countries across Asia pacific, Europe and Americas. Its U.S. headquarters are at Redmund, Washington. Nintendo sells using both online and offline channels. It sells from its own website and several more retail channels. 

Other retailers that sell Nintendo products in US include :

  • Amazon
  • Best Buy
  • Chapters
  • Costco Wholesale
  • Dell 
  • EB Games
  • Fry’s Electronics
  • Future Shop
  • Aye
  • Game Stop
  • Meijer
  • Nintendo
  • New York
  • Nintendo
  • Pokemon Center
  • Sam’s Club
  • Shopko
  • The Source
  • Staples
  • Target
  • Walmart

Price:-

The company has sold more than 4.6 billion video games and around 725 million hardware units. It has created products in varying price ranges. The company offers some free games also. Most of the paid games are priced in an affordable range from $15 to $100. The company has released around 1,100 games in the least price range at 0 to 5 dollars. Nintendo released around 50 free games. Around 1,200 games are in the $5 to $ 10 price range.

The gaming console Nintendo switch is priced at $300. Other gaming products and accessories by Nintendo are also priced affordably. The new Nintendo 3DS XL is priced at $200 only. The company also offers regular sales and deals. It helps attract customers and promote the company.

Promotion:-

Nintendo uses several channels for promotion. The main channel of promotion for Nintendo is its own website. However, the company also uses several more channels including the social media. Its own website is both a retail and promotion channel for the company. The company sells through several retail brands. These brands include online retailer Amazon and physical retailer Walmart.  Mario is a famous character globally. Other several characters created by Nintendo are also famous. Characters like Donkey Kong, Zelda and Pokemon are globally famous. It has millions of followers on social network  sites like Twitter and Facebook. 

Nintendo uses several channels for promotion. The main channel of promotion for Nintendo is its own website. However, the company also uses several more channels including the social media. Its own website is both a retail and promotion channel for the company. The company sells through several retail brands. These brands include online retailer Amazon and physical retailer Walmart.  Mario is a famous character globally. Other several characters created by Nintendo are also famous. Characters like Donkey Kong, Zelda and Pokemon are globally famous. It has millions of followers on social network  sites like Twitter and Facebook. 

Nintendo is a leading brand in the world of gaming. However, it also uses advertising for brand promotions. In 2017-18 fiscal year, its advertising expenses were around 700 million dollars.

Conclusion:

Nintendo is a world famous brand of video games. Some of its main creations including Nintendo Wii, Pokemon, Mario and Zelda have made it a world famous name. Nintendo has used an affordable pricing strategy. It uses mainly online channels for sales and promotions. However, it also has several offices throughout the world at key places. Its net sales saw tremendous growth in 2018. Revenue of the company more than doubled from 2017 to 2018 and reached around 10,000 USD. Nintendo is a famous and successful gaming business today with a large base of fans and followers globally.