I think it can work in the right environment. 

Of course, not in the traditional sense of playing mario kart. But if MK were to be reworked into a different angle, then yes, paying for blue shells could work. Maybe a set of three for a dollar that can only be used in singleplayer, where you unlock different characters.

So you have single and multi. In single, you unlock characters, new karts and levels. You can buy the new characters and karts and levels for 3$ each (includes one character, level, and kart), or you can unlock by getting first place on all levels with one character. If you're finding it hard to beat a level, with a certain character, you can buy blue shells or lightning bolts to help you proceed. Say 3 of each for a dollar.

Now in multiplayer, when you perform well (top 3), or are under a certain time for a time trial (which is reset every day), you get boosters that help you during races. Players can also buy these boosters while winning them is more random. Boosters can also be used during single player.

Contrastingly, if they changed MK to being about both placing and SCORING (ie hitting opponents, not hitting walls, hitting speed boosts, etc etc), and made the races shorter but with more laps, blue shell packs would make more sense as it balances out.

I don't see why Nintendo couldn't make games on mobile as well as the traditional console market. They wouldn't even have to release their known IP's. Just release a game with the Nintendo name on it to an incredibly large install base. It wouldn't be the end of the world. In fact Nintendo had a huge casual gaming following with the Wii. This audience that they gathered didn't disappear, they just went on to other products. This idea that Nintendo is above mobile gaming is silly - there's a lot of money to be made on that front.

"Cynical Nintendo shareholder proves Iwata right"

huh? I must have missed this part in the article.

99 cents bit?

It is simpel . It will kill the mario franchise and nobody wil buy a Nintendo Console thej will wait until Nintendo release his game on ios and Android.

Heads would roll? You got those games for free. It's Nintendo kowtowing to it's completely irrational fanbase like you that is hurting them the most.

What would you do if they made it 15$? Would you stop playing Nintendo? Would you not buy another game? Would you stop supporting them? Would you feel betrayed?

I'm guessing no.

But you know how I feel about it? Like Nintendo doesn't give a fuck. Like Nintendo is retarded. Like maybe I should just get into piracy. Like maybe Nintendo doesn't deserve my money. Like maybe I should just play a console that gives me what I want.

Let's think back to how holding back software worked out for the Wii.....

Nintendo are the masters of mini games (Mario Party series, Wii party seires and others) and mikro games (WarioWare and others). Dump it all in AppStore and GooglePlay! Make an app that have an interface that show all of the hundred mini/micro games there are and let people buy trouch this interface.

Care to elaborate?

That's a pretty large assumption.

Expand the Animal Crossing Plaza and make the friendliest , happiest social network the world has ever seen. Censor EVERYTHING and encourage people to be kind. Let people create clothes, patterns, furniture, songs and whatnot. and let them sell them to each other for a small fee. Make special festivals (sell Festival items) and have the whole world join in on the party. Make a Disney holiday, a Pepsi moment, a Toyota song festival.