Nintendo is almost ready to release its first true 100% in-house game for iOS following social networking app Miitomo and a partnership with Niantic for Pokémon Go.  Super Mario Run launches on iPhone and iPad on December 15, 2016 in 151 countries as a free-to-start game.  After playing the free content and getting a taste of the endless platformer action, players can pay the $9.99 fee to unlock the full game for unlimited, unrestricted access.  Here's some of the press release which reminds us all of what Super Mario Run is all about:

Super Mario Run is the first Super Mario Bros. game developed specifically for mobile devices. In the game, Mario runs forward on his own, but relies on the tap of a single finger to jump over obstacles, avoid enemies, pull off stylish moves, collect coins and reach the flagpole to complete courses.

Browsing around the online gaming community already shows some sticker shock for the $10 price tag, but so long as the game is fun on its own merits and isn't bogged down by in-app purchases for consumable tokens and items ($1 for a 5-pack of Super Mushrooms, $5 for a bundle of 560 coins - best value!), I have no problem paying actual game prices for an actual game.  I still trust Nintendo to get this right and I will definitely start with and evaluate the free content before I put any money down, but I'm open to paying for the game if I enjoy it and intend to keep playing it.  I've paid for other iOS games before (mostly Sega's stellar Sonic the Hedgehog ports) and would rather pay a single price one time for a game rather than bother with coin packs and item bundles. 

Super Mario Run - November 15 screenshots