For better or worse (depending on your view of the mobile gaming scene), Nintendo is spreading its Mushroom Kingdom influence to new audiences on smartphones and tablets.

Japanese eCommerce, mobile, and online service developer DeNA has been given the task of creating brand new games based on Nintendo IP for your favorite Android and iOS mobile devices. According to the press release, “only new original games optimized for smart device functionality will be created,” which means don’t expect to see just a bunch of downscaled app ports of existing 3DS and Wii U games.

No specific game projects have been announced as of yet, but apparently the sky’s the limit as “all Nintendo IP will be eligible for development and exploration.”

Additionally, in a move that would seem to explain the reason behind Club Nintendo shutting down, Nintendo and DeNA’s alliance also involves the development of a new online membership service that users will be able to access via PC, 3DS and Wii U, as well as smart devices. This service, in whatever form it takes, is expected to launch sometime this fall.

So what do you think about Nintendo’s decision to get into mobile game development? Smart move to tap into a huge new audience? Do you fear the potential for such iconic franchises becoming tainted by free-to-play models and in-app purchase schemes?