Despite the growth in 2011 of social network games for mobile phones and smartphones from companies such as Gree Inc. and DeNA Co., console games are poised for a comeback with Nintendo Co.'s 3DS portable device selling strongly in recent weeks and Sony Corp. launching its PlayStation Vita hand-held console in December.
"We would like to see the Nintendo 3DS spread explosively and quell reports that game-dedicated devices are coming to an end," Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said at a news conference in late October.
As he predicted, the 3DS console has been drawing brisk demand recently, aided by the launch of new titles from popular games series such as "Mario Kart" and "Monster Hunter," with sales topping the 3 million mark in December in Japan, according to data compiled by game magazine publisher Enterbrain Inc.