There's little reason why they are dependent on only in-app coins. They could easily sell "advertising" by placing regionally rare items in real business space.
This would be one of the worst possible outcomes of Nintendo dipping their toes into the mobile game category. Nintendo doesn't need to bootstrap, they don't need to mine user data, they are brimming with IP and are backed by a lot of creative people.
My hope is after this initial success they start adding in paid apps that tie into improve their existing games. Something like exploring the real world for Pokemon allows them or the items they carry to be transferred to the 3DS version.
If something like that is successful full development of uniquely mobile games that are actually worth paying for and don't require the app to be full of ads, cheat to win paid upgrades, or completely unnecessary waiting periods between levels. The best outcome for the mobile gaming industry would be the fall of in-app purchasing in favor of outright buying fun well made games.
Nintendo's IP is strong enough to lead this charge with the right business strategy.
Exactly. The rare item placement could be sold to the highest bidder, without any actual advertising in game. It's everything foursquare tried to do -- drive foot traffic.
Can you imagine driving down the road, your family is starving, you just want something quick to eat. You ask your kids what they want to eat, and they say Burger King, because that's where mew is that week? Kids have a lot of control on this stuff, and the retail space knows it.
In addition, they can also tap into mellineals who grew up on Pokémon.
