Nintendo Co. is ignoring "compelling evidence" that "Super Mario" and its other video games would sell on smartphones and tablets, according to a Hong Kong hedge fund manager who urged the company to shift gears.
Seth Fischer, chief investment officer of Oasis Management Co., called on Nintendo President Satoru Iwata in a letter Wednesday to begin selling its video games on Apple Inc.'s iPhones and iPads, as well as devices using Google Inc.'s Android operating system.
"As the holder of what is arguably the largest library of casual games, Nintendo is well placed to make an immediate entry into mobile," Fischer told the company, which is based in Kyoto.
While some investors and analysts have urged Nintendo to license its games for smartphones and tablets, Iwata said in January that the world's largest maker of video game machines will instead seek partners to expand licensing of Nintendo characters for uses outside the video game industry.
Fischer, who said his company is an adviser to Nintendo shareholders, is seeking a meeting to discuss the company's strategy, according to the letter.
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