Yesterday at the launch of Super Smash Bros. Brawl we got the chance to sit down with Matthew Grose, General Manager of Core Gaming Systems, and ask some hard-hitting questions.

So, without further ado, straight from their mouths to your eyes.

Titles and pricing

The first question was regarding why we haven’t seen DS titles that have already been released in Europe arrive in South Africa yet. Titles specifically mentioned include the popular Phoenix Wright series and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Interest was also shown in Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which has not yet been released in Europe to the best of my knowledge, but which Core Gaming has luckily received one copy of to try out and which they describe so far as addictive. Grose answered that Core Gaming’s strategy is to bring the historical titles into SA first so these titles will follow after the back titles have been released here.

Next up was a query about the pricing of both the Wii and DS. Grose explained that Core Gaming works out the prices based on the European market. Core Gaming is given European prices and must add import charges as well as their own and retailers’ margins to the pot. He assures us that our prices are within 10% of Europe and reminds us that we should only look at European prices, not those of America or Japan.

Each time the exchange rate has increased, Core Gaming has absorbed this loss, bearing in mind that the exchange rate has just started to come down over the past week and that they have been dealing with fluctuating exchange rates since the Wii and DS were launched here last year. Both retailers and Core Gaming have been slashing their margins in an attempt to stay true to the consumer.

Stars Catalogue and Wii Connect 24

The Nintendo Club was launched in late June, and with it came the opportunity for gamers to access the Stars Catalogue. The Stars Catalogue enables gamers to register Nintendo products and games to earn Star Points which can then be traded for cool Nintendo goodies.

Although gamers were happy with this progress, many were disgruntled that Star Points can only currently be swapped for several Nintendo wallpapers. The good news is that mobile wallpapers and ringtones as well as items are in the pipeline. Core Gaming urges us to consider the problems that they are facing including logistics and shipping. However, it is a focus of theirs and they will be tracking registrations so encourage gamers to register which will help the process along.

Both the Nintendo Club and Wii Connect 24 are driven largely by Nintendo of Europe. As such there is only so much pressure Core Gaming can apply although Wii Connect 24 is a massive priority to them. The problems that they face are getting the games classified by the FPB in South Africa as well as concerns surrounding how payment for the Virtual Console titles will be made. Nintendo of Europe are also concerned about broadband penetration in South Africa, they do not want to be placed in a position where playing online in not as satisfactory. So to sum up Wii Connect 24 is on the cards but there are no timelines at present.

rAge and summing up

Core Gaming also confirmed that they will not be attending rAge this year. This may come as sad news to Nintendo fans but Grose says they are taking their lead from Nintendo of Europe who are not attending Leipzig this year. They will, however, have a presence at rAge because they will be linking with retailers such as Look and Listen as well as Musica. Look out for these retailers because Core Gaming did mention giveaways!

Core Gaming are also aiming to run the Nintendo website locally, hoping that this will help to bring the game titles here more quickly. They want to grow their database and create a community and will be on a mission to collect addresses so keep an eye out. Looking to the future, Grose says that there will be close to 50 000 Wiis in homes in SA at the end of August. His objective is to get that to 6 figures by the end of the year.

If there is anything in particular you would like to ask Core Gaming, send us your questions and we will raise the questions on your behalf at the next product launch, or perhaps even before then if you say please.