The Engadget Interview: Reggie Fils-Aime, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Nintendo
By Peter Rojas 
posted February 20th 2006 12:54PM
posted February 20th 2006 12:54PM
I hardly ever agree to do phone interviews
– there's something about actually being able to sit face-to-face with someone that makes a conversation flow
– but when Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, calls, you gotta accept
the charges. Read on to see what Reggie has to say about the new Nintendo DS (and how it's not
“unreasonable” to assume that a third DS is in the works), the current state of the Revolution (and how
that really is just a code name), how they're planning to introduce a new franchise on the level of
Zelda/Mario/Nintendogs at E3 this year, how underwhelmed he was by the Xbox 360, and how he absolutely, positively has
not seen that Nintendo ON video that was circulating last year. Thank you for taking a few minutes to chat with me today, I know you have a very busy schedule right now. One of the first things I wanted to ask you about is the new Nintendo DS Lite which was announced in Japan a couple of weeks ago. Is this what the DS should have been when it was first introduced back in 2004?
When the DS was first announced our focus really was on communicating to consumers and to developers the innovation that’s in that unit: two screens, a touch screen, voice activation. And we’ve certainly done that to the tune of multi-millions of units sold across the world. We really a leadership position in every market we compete in versus our competition.
In terms of the physical unit itself, from the day we first showed pictures we’ve been ongoing making tweaks and adjustments, looking to get it as beautiful and as distinctive as possible. What we showed at E3 ended up being different than what we launched with. And certainly what this iteration represents is our ongoing effort to leverage product design to make our innovations and products as attractive as possible.
We will continue to make ongoing adjustments and tweaks to our product design, always with the eye of the consumer in mind.
Does that mean we could probably expect a third iteration of the DS about 18 months from now?
I wouldn’t say that that’s an unreasonable assumption. Look at how many times we’ve improved on the Game Boy Advance in terms of the look, the feel, screen changes, and everything else. We believe that type of constant innovation is critical to driving this industry, and certainly if you look at the world wide sales of Game Boy Advance, I don’t think anyone would disagree.
Have you set a timetable for when the DS Lite will be available here in North America?
We have not announced the date and we won’t be announcing a date for the foreseeable future. We are working through our inventories and our allocations of product and frankly, we are doing everything we can just to meet current demand. Japan has already announced that they will launch in early March and they have the same challenges of meeting that very high level of demand.
We need to make sure that we have enough product in hand for us to launch effectively here in North America and as soon as we feel we are in that position we’ll announce it.
Do you think that announcing this new
version so early, before it comes out, risks cannibalizing sales of the current DS?Yeah, that is certainly a risk. But unfortunately it was a situation that couldn’t be helped in that our Japanese sales have been so strong, we’ve been out of stock essentially since the last few days in December. And that’s what drove us to announce the new design as early as we did so that we could let those consumers know that it was coming.
What sort of response have you gotten to the new Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service for the Nintendo DS?
We feel the launch has gone spectacularly well. We launched Nintendo Wi-Fi connection with advertising that communicated the ease, the accessibility, and the match-up service that allowed consumers to play against people of their own skill level. The launch of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in the U.S., in Japan, and in Europe has been phenomenal. We are on track to break all types of records in terms of number of connections and number of unique users. And the software that we’ve launched is what’s driving really it.
The Tony Hawk title from Activision, our own Mario Kart DS, and Animal Crossing DS and we’re quite excited with the titles coming up. We’ve announced Metroid Prime: Hunters and Tetris DS, both WiFi compatible, both launching on the 20th of March. So we think we’ve launched extremely well, we’re quite happy with the numbers. And quite frankly, we’re prepared to bring out more and more titles to drive the service and ur objective is to get every single consumer to try Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection at least once, that’s our objective.
Now how do you respond to some of the criticisms of the service, like the lack of persistent friends?
Well, a couple of things. First the number of concerns or questions that have been raised by consumers who use the service are extremely modest. I mean we are talking hundredths of a percent of actual connections in terms of any consumers who are saying something negative about the service or the approach.
And the second point, in terms of having to have new friend codes for every game, quite frankly, what that does is put control in the hands of the gamer. So there are some people that I want to let into my house with Animal Crossing and others that I don’t, and that friend code set up allows me to manage that title by title. We think that’s the appropriate way to go.
Where is
Nintendo right now with the development of the Revolution?We have been sharing the controller mechanics with developers across the world. We have shipped over a thousand controller dev kits to developers so that they can begin getting experience with the controller mechanics. The response to the controller has been fantastic. Developers are truly embracing the innovation. They’re embracing the approach and quite frankly, they’re embracing our vision; our vision of creating games that are as sophisticated as the core gamer wants it to be but could also be as straightforward and as accessible as brand new gamers. And that vision, that strategy is what Nintendo is all about. We want to create a system with Revolution that appeals to all types of gamers versus going down a path that, frankly, is a bit exclusionary.
You mean in terms of the competition and what they’re doing?
Exactly. They have gone down a path that is very expensive for consumers, very expensive for developers to create content against, and they're providing a level of horsepower technology that not many consumers want. We in providing to consumers and to developers an approach that is certainly high-tech and certainly powerful enough to create the most sophisticated games, but also has an approach that is open for developers to create whatever type of content they want.
Do you think that not having support for high-definition will put the Revolution at a disadvantage with respect to the PS3 and the Xbox 360?
Ok.
I’m certainly not going to get into it today but, suffice it to say, the approach we’ve taken with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which is all about great game play, ease of access, total control in the hands of the consumer and a fantastic experience, all of those principles will be applied to the virtual console. We fully expect that consumers who are exposed to the approach will love it. And we’ll be prepared to share that information at E3.
So networking and all that other stuff will be built into the console?
Well, you’ll see more at E3.
Has the release of Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess been pushed back once again?
No, it has not. We have gone on record that we are launching it in 2006 on GameCube and that is still the plan.
I ask because some retailers are showing June 1, while others are showing May 15. Is that about when we should expect it?
No, we have not told retailers a specific launch date and we’ll be working with all of our key retailers and sharing that information shortly, getting pre-sales set up, and really driving the buzz and the interest in this title in the way our fans want it to be. We know -- and our fans know -- that Zelda certainly will be the biggest and best title ever for GameCube. And we will market it as such and we know the consumers won’t be disappointed.
Speaking of GameCube, if you play a GameCube game on the new Revolution console, will you be able to use the Revolution controller or will you have to use the older style of controller?
Well, all of the GameCube games will be compatible only with GameCube accessories, so whether it’s a WaveBird or whether it’s a wired controller, you’ll only be able to play those titles with those accessories. Essentially what we’re saying is that Revolution titles are the only ones that will leverage the new controller.
Nintendo has said all along that the Game Boy and the DS are of parallel platforms and that the DS is not the next Game Boy, but how long will it be until we see a new Game Boy come out?
You know, that’s a great question better posed to Mr. Iwata. From my perspective, our focus is on driving Nintendo DS, launching the plethora of titles that we have coming up for this platform over the next time period, as well as driving Game Cube successfully until the Revolution launch, as well as driving Game Boy Advance.
We’ve just talked to retailers about some new titles coming for Game Boy Advance; obviously Drill Dozer has just launched and is getting very positive reviews out in the marketplace. Our plan continues to be to support all three lines of our business; the home console, DS, as well as Game Boy Advance.
Do you ever think that having two different portable platforms is confusing for the average consumer, at least from a marketing standpoint?
We have not seen that at all. Consumers understand that Game Boy Advance today really is a mass market platform. The titles available, while there are RPGs and other, more complex games, but certainly what is selling most right now are games targeted to a slightly younger demographic and it’s doing extremely well. DS, with all of the innovation, commands a higher price point and has a variety of different titles to meet those consumer needs. We have not seen any consumer confusion or misunderstanding of exactly what those two platforms are all about.
How have sales of the Game Boy
Micro been?Sales of Game Boy Micro have been exactly where we predicted them to be. It's ten to fifteen percent of total Game Boy Advance sales, targeted against a very specific demographic who want something high image, who want something unique, and that’s exactly where that product has delivered. We continue to sell it and we will continue to sell it for the foreseeable future.
Earlier you touched on the difference in philosophy between Nintendo and Sony and Microsoft. Lately when people from Sony and Microsoft talk about Nintendo, it seems like they're always trying to position the company as creating games solely for a younger demographic. How do you respond to that?
It’s categorically false. I find it quite interesting that our competitors are more interested in trying to pigeonhole us versus articulating a clear strategy amongst themselves that differentiates where they’re trying to do in the marketplace. We have been very clear in our positioning. Nintendo is about innovation and bringing new and unique game play to the consumer -- both the core gamer, as well as new gamers. And we view that mission as critical because as you look at all the demographic data, this industry can no longer rely simply on more and more young men coming of age to try gaming, and being in that, call it ten to twenty year old demographic. The fact is that that demographic is shrinking and the next cohort, their younger brothers, is even smaller.
So, for us, we view it as critical to find new ways to bring gaming to the masses. That means women, as we’ve successfully done with Nintendogs. That means older consumers, as Japan has successfully done with Brain Age and that product’s sequel. That is exactly what we will be doing here in this marketplace, not only with DS, but with Revolution as well: bringing innovation to the marketplace that satisfies the hardest of the hardcore as well as brings new consumers into the marketplace.
Is there an over
reliance on Nintendo’s long established franchises and characters, like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and the others? It
seems like we see a new blockbuster franchise like Nintendos with decreasing frequency. Absolutely not. Nintendo has an enviable position of having the best franchises in this industry in terms of Mario and Zelda and Metroid and Donkey Kong and all of those great franchises. Together those are a library that any developer would kill for. In addition, we have the ability to create new franchises; Nintendogs, a great new franchise and the innovation that’s captured in that software is fantastic.
The Brain Training series is another new genre that has taken Japan by storm and I’m firmly convinced will take the U.S. and Europe by storm. So if anything, what we have seen from Nintendo is an ability to innovate its greatest franchise characters in brand new ways, as well as develop brand new franchises that create million unit selling titles. That’s a very enviable position to be in.
Will we see some brand new franchises for the Revolution?
Yes we will.
Something that will be as big as a Nintendogs or a Zelda?
That is certainly the goal, but you’ll have to tell me when you see it at E3. We will be showing a lot of information about Revolution at E3. You know we’ve said publicly that this year’s E3 will be Revolution’s coming out party. Now, we’ve also been quite clear that there are innovations inherent in Revolution that we will be sharing ongoing. That it is simply not a one time event for us to share information about Revolution and all of its innovation. I have seen blog entries on your site and other sites that criticize us for that, but quite frankly, it’s just good business. In terms of letting the consumer know what’s involved and sharing that information all the way up until launch.
Is Revolution going to be the final name or is it still a code name?
It is still a code name.
Will you unveil the new name at E3?
Maybe.
Have you played with the Xbox 360?
I have played with a 360.
What did you think about it?
Honestly, I was underwhelmed. And let me be clear: I played with pre-production units at last year’s E3 as well as at other industry events, I’ve played with production product, and while certainly some games look fantastic, I found the game play for many of the titles lacking. And so for me it was not something that held my interest for very long.
We certainly are looking at what they’re doing from an online perspective and I think to give Microsoft some credit, what they’ve done with Xbox Live has been very intriguing. But as a console, as a consumer, would I have shelled out what is close to $700 when you look at the premium unit, some software, some accessories? If I would’ve done that I’d be disappointed right now.
If you'll indulge me, I wanted to ask you something that I also asked Miyamoto when I sat down with him a few months ago, and that's about that Nintendo ON video that was circulating around E3 last year . It's the one where all the game play is done wearing a sort of virtual reality helmet. Have you seen it?
I have not seen that one.
You haven’t seen, but are you aware of it?
I am aware that it was done, but I have not seen it.
It sparked a lot of speculation and enthusiasm from the Nintendo community. Why do you that something like this resonated so powerfully with your fan base?
Well, a number of things. First, Nintendo is blessed with the best, most dynamic, most vocal community of players and fans of any brand in this space. And quite frankly, I am always in awe of what our fans come up with and share. It really is compelling and it really highlights the love that they have for this brand. And it’s a situation that most companies would, they certainly envy our position. Second, in terms of an innovation like a virtual reality helmet, I think that the industry, our fans – and even our competitors -- expect that type of innovation from us. They expect that we will be the ones pushing the industry and pushing the envelope with brand new ideas. And I think that’s another reason why that video resonated out in the marketplace. That’s my reaction.
So it wasn't passed around the office there?
I didn’t get a chance to see it but who’s to say if either Perrin [Kaplan] or some of my other executives didn’t get a chance to see it.
I know we don’t have a ton of time left, so one of the last things I wanted to ask you about was about how Sony and Microsoft are positioning their new consoles as multimedia digital entertainment devices in addition to gaming devices, something which Nintendo has not emphasized. Sony talks about the PSP and how it can play music and video, and while the DS can have those capabilities, it's not something Nintendo talks about very much. What is Nintendo's philosophy about all this stuff going forward? Do you see multimedia as a distraction from gaming?
Our philosophy is that consumers want great gaming experiences and our passion is delivering great gaming experiences. In the home console space, we believe that the best way to do that is with a dedicated machine. In the handheld space, as you’ve said, the DS does have other capabilities in the multimedia area, but we believe it’s important to first establish its credentials as a superb game playing device.
To be perfectly clear, the Microsoft and Sony strategies are based on overall corporate objectives versus what’s right for the consumer. That’s a reality. Microsoft is essentially trying to get you to put a PC in your living room because they are fundamentally a PC software company. Sony is trying to get you to put an entertainment hub that has Blu-ray technology because that’s important to their movie business and the rest of their entire electronics business.
We are a gaming company. We are gamers at heart. We love creating great, innovative content and superbly designed hardware, that’s what we do. And with that passion comes a laser like focus to do things that are right for the consumer and right for the business. That’s the fundamental difference in our strategy versus our competition.
Thank you so much for your time. I know this was very short notice, but it’s very much appreciated.
I have to tell you, I read both Engadget and Joystiq on a regular basis. So keep up the great work.
The average gamer has a real life and and job. We game to get away from it all. If you have ever had to trade a game to get another game, you understand what I am talking about. Those you don't have a ton of money can't drop a grand for a system like that 360 that had little to offer right now. I am waiting for a revolution. Nintendo understands what gamers want for their money, and that is a great system with great games.
"Madden is the top selling game every year, and there are millions who will make their console decision solely based on that one game."
ignorance is bliss...
-----------------------------
OK, so I exaggerated a little, but Madden is a huge deal in the console world, and will be the deciding factor for many people. They might not know what 480p and 1080i/p are, but they'll know that the Revolution looks significantly worse than its competition running the same games.
I just can't see myself even giving Nintendo a chance after the incredibly poor decision to leave HD out of its console. It just shows a total lack of forsight, and if they go cheap on the hardware I have to think they'll go cheap on the software down the line.
**41. I don't care if it's the most innovative machine ever, if Madden plays in 480p on the Revolution and in 1080p on the PS3, the average person just won't buy a Revolution.
Madden is the top selling game every year, and there are millions who will make their console decision solely based on that one game.**
umm zelda, smash bros and metroid (to name a few) also sell millions and even way more than madden. Enough said.
Not everybody lives in the U.S mate.
How any of you who have owned any of Nintendos last 2 consoles can still support them is beyond me. Nintendo has the WORST lineup of games on its home consoles, may be different for the portables but for consoles forget about it.
Whos to say this trend wont continue with the Revolution? Lack of third party publishing is still a major problem for them. Look at Resident Evil 4, launched last Jan (a so-called exclusive title). It was the only Cube game worth buying the whole year.
Nintendo has screwed up some much in the past; sticking to cartriges, using a smaller dvd format and most recently not supporting online gameplay with the Cube for the same reason they are not supporting high def with the Revolution. At this point they have no other choice then to do something completely different then its competitors.
BTW, this guys saying Microsoft and Sony are pigeonholing Nintendo by saying they market to children. What the hell will this system look like to the average consumer? I can just imagine seeing an in-store display with people waving their arms at each other hitting a ball back in forth in Mario Tennis.
" If you'll indulge me, I wanted to ask you something that I also asked Miyamoto when I sat down with him a few months ago, and that's about that Nintendo ON video that was circulating around E3 last year . It's the one where all the game play is done wearing a sort of virtual reality helmet. Have you seen it?
I have not seen that one.
You havent seen, but are you aware of it?
I am aware that it was done, but I have not seen it. "
he LIES!
The omission of HD-support is a big mistake. HD penetration in Canada has reached 18%. What will it be in a years time? Revolution will look really old and low-tech a year from now.
Hi Definition is also a status issue. Revolution will be at an disadvantage when being compared to XBOX360 & PS3.
Nintendo could have given the GameCube a DVD player instead as that is their idea of next gen. The new controller is something that can be copied by Sony/MS if it's succesful.
Great interview yet again Engadget! Can't wait for the Revolution!
I think it's time people realise that *most* Nintendo fanboys don't give a toss about third party support. Do you think I'm buying a Rev to play EA games.. If I get a Zelda, Metroid, Mario etc I will be satisfied with the Rev..
I can play the other better third party games on the other consoles if need be.
1up:
Dude you only need small movements with your wrists not with your whole arms.
In regards to only producing the DS Lite right now, it would be a bad idea in the US because there are plenty of DS units still available on store shelves. If Nintendo produced a ton of Lites and released them here, they'd have too many units on the shelves. Supply and demand. Japan has been gobbling up DS units left and right, so it makes sense to release the DS Lite as soon as possible to satisfy the demand there. Releasing the DS Lite in other countries around the holiday season sounds like a more financially sound decision. Plus, it'd be a lot easier to hype the system around that time. While I'd love to have a DS Lite right this minute, I am willing to wait.
their marketing exec never saw Nintendo ON? Yeouch.
The best thing nintendo could ever do for itself is to give the author of that vid a few grand to re-engineer a 3 minute version of Nintendo ON for the revolution (abbreviated intro of old nintendo consoles, the whole castle-scaling sequence, followed by a demo of the rev's operation in a similar style).
back it w/high production value and have that sucker show as a bona-fide preview to every big movie between now and november.
here's a link (same as the one given in post #24) if you're not familiar w/Nintendo ON: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2863158454693395534&q=nintendo+on
I have and will continue to purchase each system. I own the 360 and numerous games and it's nothing more then a PC with a slick interface. Systems don't make the games. There are many 2D games I rather play then COD2 or PGR3. HiDef or not it's whatever you find to be fun. If all of the American citizens go for regurgitated first person shooters or for Madded 2079 then so be it. I will have both the PS3 and Nintendo Rev and pick and choose from which games I find to be fun. All you fail to realize that the hardware doesn't make the game.
The Revolution will introduce a new way to interact with the games close to virtual reality and this may or may not bring some new innovative type of games onto the market.
Personally, I'm sick of generic overhyped FPS and would love to sit back and go fishing or do some sword fighting with my controller.
Regardless of anyones personal opinions Nintendo's handheld products dominate the market - you can't mess with hard facts (sales figures). Like it or not Nintendo owns the video gaming market.
Now I'll shut up and go back to playing my XBOX 360 Quake 4, Nintendo DS Castlevania, PS2 GT4, GC Zelda, PSP GTA and XBOX Fable. :)
His answers were mostly dull and full of "we know everything".
But his last answer was impressive!
Wll I own a 360 and i was underwhelmed too. I also have a 43" 16x9 HDTV and a premium 360 so its not like im not getting good graphics but honestly the graphis arent selling me anymore. I play FEAR on my high end pc every maybe 7 days but i play World of Warcraft a much less "pretty" game every night. Its to me now about the experience. I still own my nes and hook it up to said tv and go through Castlevania with a smile b/c its just fun. Its not the best looking game since its from 1985 or so but who cares. I dont play xbox live simply b/c none of the games interest me then again i dont even play FEAR live. Maybe i will play more live games if its something besides a FPS or MMORPG i dunno maybe not. I will own a Rev and PS3 simply b/c i love games and i dont care what company wins b/c i win by having 3 diffirent consols to play games on. Face it all 3 companies will be carring fat paychecks to the bank regardless of which fan boy oycotts which system. They all have a big enough user base to make money. I look forward to the Rev especially with a smaller price tag and emphasis on games. This was a great statement reggie made...
"To be perfectly clear, the Microsoft and Sony strategies are based on overall corporate objectives versus whats right for the consumer. Thats a reality. Microsoft is essentially trying to get you to put a PC in your living room because they are fundamentally a PC software company. Sony is trying to get you to put an entertainment hub that has Blu-ray technology because thats important to their movie business and the rest of their entire electronics business."
IMO thats pretty acurate. That said i dont need a pc in my living room i already have one in the pc i built but i still own a 360 b/c i am hoping some worthwhile games come out. And as far as having a PS3 for a blu ray player i could care less i own maybe 6dvd's and im 24 i could give a crap about hollywood. Most of those dvds are adult swim stuff so who care is Aqua Teen is in super duper kill your mom HD. But i want a PS3 for the franchise games. Why do i want a rev though? Simple for something diffirent for something thats simply on my floor to play some damn games on. Just my 2 cents enjoy :)
How many times can a single person say "E3" in an interview or use words that start with the letter "T"?!
HahaHAH.. ROFLOLOMGBBQ!!~!
Shut your trap.
Find a multiplatform game like Call of Duty 2 and compare the 360 to a high-end PC. If you noticed a difference you probably noticed that the high-end PC pushed out a higher framerate, cleaner visuals, and tighter controls (with a mouse).
Who in the right mind would want an inferior product? You? Me? NO WAY! The 360 and PS3 will probably have exclusive titles that may make the systems worth it, but don't call your product "next gen" if it's the same recycled garbage with a new coat of paint that doesn't look any better than anything that exists in THIS generation. Next gen will be a revolutionary experience and I know exactly which company is going to deliver it.
Peace.
@1:
7 Times. Since the Regginator did it, that is the absolute maximum number of times any ONE person can say "frankly." In their entire lives.
Retarded side-note: Except for chuck norris, OBVIOUSLY. He can say it 8 times.
we need animated moovie for theater
Engadget, you disappoint me. You didn't ask about Mother 3, or whether or not Mother 1+2 would be brought out here.
For me the bottom line is that North America is moving to HD. Most of the new TV sets sold today are HD compliant and this will continue to pick up pace. For anyone that's played games in standard def vs. high def will easily say that there is no comparison (myself inclued). I own a 360 and will buy a PS3 when it comes out. I still have my old Xbox, and while the games are good, the visual experience is seriouly lacking after playing the 360 - also, the new controller on the 360 is fantastic. I just can't see myself going with the Revolution. Perhpas there is a market of young people who want a cheap machine to hook to their old TV, but I'm not sure how big a market this is...
There handheld on the other hand is quite nice.
Nintendo as a home console just won't cut it against Sony and Microsoft, unless you are 12 years old. Sure I enjoyed the more "mature" titles on Gamecube, and bought one just to play the "exclusives", but not being 12 years old found very little else I was interested in playing on the "Gametoy". Face it, it's made for the Japanese market right down to the controller set-up and size (Gamecube)which is anti-intuitive when compared to the similarity of the xbox/ps2 controller.
And as far as HDTV goes, Nintendo will get smoked on that as well. I'm not rich at all, but I've got 2 HDTV's right now-a 27 inch 4:3 and a 26 inch Widescreen-both tv's were bought on sale at Circuit City for $399 so basically, if you don't have HDTV I have to consider you a bit backwards since that's not that much more expensive than the price of an analog set. Wal-Mart sells a 27" 1080i 4:3 RCA for $279! So let's face it, once again Nintendo is out of touch with America, just as Microsoft wasn't really accepted by the Japanese market. I'm not into handheld gaming so I have no opinion on it except that maybe Nintendo should work more in that area to compete and trump Psp and just give up on the home console business altogether in the USA. Seriously, if it wasn't for Resident Evil and Eternal darkness I could've easily gotten by WITHOUT a gamecube altogether-meaning if you have to rely on 3rd party "exclusives" then all you are really trying to do is "buy the pot" to use a poker term. Other than that there's really nothing they have for the older gamer that can't be time better spent on the Xbox or Ps2. And as for being able to download their old games throught the revolution, why would I care. Man, I use to like Van Halen and Guns and Roses but that's not what I listen to today so applying this to games why would I want to replay some 8 bit game with midi music bleeping and blopping into my brain. Thanks but no thanks, you keep your Super mario Bros.3 and I'll keep on playing Battlefield/Battlefront/PGR/COD2 etc etc (..)
I just got my copy of the new EGM. Now, I have always been a Nintendo fanboy. And I normally enjoy Reggie and his balls-to-the-wall approach, but he said something in the article that was an absolute insult to my (and thousands of others') intelligence. When asked about the perceived abandonement of the gamecube (meaning: lack of new, good games) he stated that Mario Strikers (an average game at best in my opinion) was not so much a sports game but actually more like Smash Melee. What!?!?!?!? You lost me with that one Reggie. The closest relative Strikers has is Ice Hockey on the NES (which was a great game) but this is no Smash Melee. Its laughable to type them into the same sentence. I'll still await the coming of the Revolution with great anticipation, but there is a crack now in my confidence in anything that comes out of the Regginator's mouth.
"Madden is the top selling game every year, and there are millions who will make their console decision solely based on that one game."
Wow. I hope this isn't true, since they now own the exclusive rights to NFL teams, players, and logos. No one else is allowed to make an NFL game, so if you're making your decision based on Madden, it's like deciding where to live based on whether or not they have a Post Office.
"Nintendo as a home console just won't cut it against Sony and Microsoft, unless you are 12 years old."
I think this is the current sentiment for gamers under 20 years old. Those of us who have been around the block a few times may have a different perspective. A demand for ultra sharp high-res graphics is definitely a new trend in gaming. After all, I have been a gamer for 20 years, and the poo-your-pants realism in graphics is something that's relatively new.
I think the 360 and PS3 have turned their focus to people who call themselves "h4rd c0r3 g4m3rz" (a small but vocal minority of boys aged 10-16 and a group of middle aged dudes who play video games when they get drunk) who are the first to praise and criticize a console before it comes out and generally complain about everything.
The funny thing is that Sony and Microsoft want you to believe that Nintendo is a children's toy, when in fact, their products are marketed toward this petulant group of children. I used to love PS and was an Xbox apologist, but could care less about either. Sure, the Revolution lacks HD support, but it also lacks hundreds of dollars in comparitive pricing (so say the insiders). Anyone who thinks hundreds of dollars extra for technology they can't even support (and most don't have HD, and if you do, I could care less) is a child, end of story.
from #25: Nintendo-on, very cool!
from # 49: Madden may be a great game, but not everyone likes sports games.
Also, the graphics may be as comparable as an Intel processor is to an Amthlon processor, it's not the #'s that count but it's the efficiency. C'mon people, think Japanese! FRANKLY, only time will tell for sure.
I am a little bummed that the Rev doesn't support HD, (so Nintendo may be coming out with a HD supported console in a few more years) but comparatively, N64 is still fun for some even though the graphics are low.
ciao!
He is an air bag. I don't even read the responses to the questions because he says the same crap over and over again. The Gamecube was a failure and further alienated the older gamers. I don't expect things to change. Imagine if Nintendo was your only choice?? A sad world we would be in. Nintendo will not back up the new hardware with innovative games. It will be crummy Mario Sunshine who jumps with the waving of a wand. Big deal.
I'll toss in my two cents, I suppose.
First and foremost, that was a telephone interview. So all of those people who are poking fun at him for saying "quite frankly" so many times, wait until you have a phone interview and record how many times you say "umm" or something else similar. He happens to choose "quite frankly" because that tends to be the pointed phrase of choice when you're a marketer.
I completely agree with his assessment of Sony and MS. Both are simply media giants with the aim of ensuring that everything in your house touts their logos (and in Sony's case, all with rootkits). And yes, I can see why: it's a smart, corporate-like strategy. Some people have mentioned having the supreme convenience afforded by MS's media center setup- that's a very neat technology. I'm not saying that's a terrible thing; I'm just saying that when Reggie stated Nintendo's market position, I think he nailed it. If I was paying $500+ for a console, I *expect* it to play DVDs. Actually, for $500+ I expect it to make me popcorn at the same time (the 360 probably could given the amount of heat it puts out). For the cost of a 360, you could easily get a Rev (based on what Nintendo has projected its cost to be), some games, an extra controller, AND a new DVD player. Yes, as a marketer for his own company, he made some fairly broad statements about the market for PS3 and MS. But I personally don't believe he's off by far: someone list some examples of great family-oriented games that the PS3 and 360 have released? Right ... Now some respondants may think, "so what? Who cares about family games?" Nintendo does, and because there are very few such releases from the competition, it will happily gobble up that segment.
People have talked about HDTVs gaining huge market in North America, and this may be true. But, while it represents a significant market, it is NOT the only one. Nintendo has likely made this decision based on the fact it isn't specifically targeting a high-end market. Those who have $500+ dollars to buy a PS3 and/or 360 are likely to also have the money to buy an HDTV. Those who buy a system that will cost maybe half that much may have the money or may not. I have both types of TVs in my house, and I will have no problems whatsoever enjoying the Rev on my regular TV, while the rest of my fam can watch DVDs on the HDTV, once it comes out.
Speaking of enjoyment, I agree with those who talked about gameplay. It's true that Sony and MS have some great titles out there. But when it comes down to having friends over and playing games, the little black Gamecube always takes the cake: Smash Brothers, Mario Party, Mario Tennis, NFL Blitz - just fun, laughable, entertainment on a rainy day. Yes, a powerhouse machine that can display awesome graphics is a very desirable thing - I built a gaming rig just for that. But I'm sure most of us that have played some of the latest Final Fantasies really just wish we could go back to the days of sprites and Super Nintendo.
I don't expect Revolution to be for everyone. But it will be for me, because I've loved Zelda and the vast majority of Mario games since Nintendo created them, and I am looking forward to Twilight Princess and whatever they plan for the Revolution. Yeah, you can toss out Mario Sunshine and for that matter eventhing that has to do with the Virtual Boy - every company has its misses. But I think back to those sorts of "console gaming milestones" in my life so far, and the titles that really stand out are Marios Bros 3, Super Mario World, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Final Fantasy 2 (US), Mario 64, Goldeneye, Zelda 64, ... I gotta go.
Are people blind or too stupid (Reggie included) to not "predict" that the 360 Core is going to cost the SAME as a Revolution when it is finally released? Microsoft has already implied that the Core's sole future purpose is to compete with the Revolution. Stop using the moronic argument that the 360 costs soooo much more than the Revo. It won't, and you sound like idiots when you should demonstrate a little foresight.
joshua, go read the article again... carefully this time. There is a section that effectively covers what you said. It's absurd to derive your conclusion based on a web browser and TV tuner, for a company that you supposedly support.
Otherwise you'll be seen as just another anti-Nintendo masquerading as a Nintendo fan, to strengthen your point.
@ 41.:
"They're providing a level of horsepower technology that we cant match"
???
pretty stupid statement, peco.
match what? simply order the parts (CPU, GPU, RAM, drive, etc) and "match" them.. no big deal here ..but this is not Nintendos intention this time.
"Console redesigns (to screw people into 2nd purchases), identical games (pokemon sets) arent really innovative: Also, nintendo screwed up trying to be innovative so so many times."
Like Sony did with PS1/new AND PS2/slim? identical games? like the 10th Madden?
..no real "innovation" here, this was all done way before Nintendo.. Nintendos real innovation is elsewhere.
@ 49.:
Guess that makes YOU an average person, DUDE!
You have no clue whatsoever about technology.
Sorry, but you should NEVER touch that keyboard AGAIN.
;)
Jesus people put down your joysticks and bongs, get off the couch and get L@id. Stop dreaming about a threeway with mario and luigi, it's not gonna happen.
I very much enjoyed reading this interview, and Reggie really answering any questions is what's to be expected.
The call-out to the fans touched my heart a little. It's probably the first time I've read an exec of Nintendo recognise, in an interview, the amount of creativity and thought their fan-base put into its love for them.
On the negative side, I'm NOT pleased the Revolution will play DVDs. I know this will cause a slight price increase to the machine, because of royalties. A slight price increase I am not interested in paying.
Hooked up to my television I have a PC that makes my roommate's Xbox360's multimedia functions as novel as those of an old taperecorder. That, AND a machine solely dedicated to playing DVDs. Yes, they exist.
And to the HD folks; the notion that non-HD signals look crap on your expensive new television set is not a viable complaint. It just means you shelled out for some half-baked technology, that will have even your network channels looking icky for at least another three years.
"How many times can a single person use the word "frankly"? ^_^"
Seven.
!?!?!?!??! The Revolution won't have HD gaming??? I have an HDTV!!! If any of you have a GameCube, you'd know that there are two different kinds. The old has an HD output, while the new has none. Why? Nintendo thought that no one really owns an HDTV. But that was before. Now, the HDTV service is booming! All you see in television stores now is LCD HDTVs!!! I got my TV when HDTVs were unpopular and everyone thought of discontinuing it. But now look at it! Can the Revolution AT LEAST have support for HDTVs? The image quality for me would suck without it.
I thought he looked like the Creapy Thin Man from Charlie's Angels.
Well I have a qustion for you on a nintendog game can you reset the game?
Nintendo,
Yeah, our system's inferior, but you're gonna wanna play zelda games, so THERE!
Worst attitude Ever!
HD don't look as good on regular TVs? Hello?! They're rendered in 480i on regular tvs, not in 720p scaled to 480i. How is that any different from a game that only runs in 480i/p, other than it looks amazing on more modern hardware.
One thing that I really appreciate both Microsft and Sony for doing is finally bringing consoles into territory that PC games have been sitting in for years. With HD resolutions, maybe we'll finally start to see some of the great RTS franchises become multi-platform, instead of PC-exclusive. Also, maybe isometric-view, deeply involved RPGs like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights will make appearances on consoles as well.
The number of homes containing HD displays is projected to increase exponentially; Nintendo is cutting themselves out of the future of gaming (despite their innovative ideas) by ignoring technology.
it is time...
follow the white rabbit.
Whether i buy a Rev or not depends entirely on the game experience and the online connectivity. If it turns out to be just another cool idea that nintendo fails to create fun experiences for (super scope anyone?) then I don't see how it will sell. What I think is a good idea is making the innovative idea MANDATORY, where the developers don't have any option of skirting around it, but instead have to work with the contoller design and cater to it. Smart. The DS has done this exceedingly well, and with the release of mariokart, they had me. I hope that they release games that are innovative genres of games, and not just innovative re-hashes of long-lasting ideas. Even though FPS games are going to be great: Think flashlight and gun controlled by two REV controllers (drool). I hope it turns out good.
As far as 360 goes, my friend bought one, and he just plays halo 2 on live all the time. I think it's an excellent console, but the launch titles are lackluster.
Not that the console itself is terrible, i just think microsoft rushed it, and in typical microsoft style, seem to be ignoring that that, in the world of consoles, IS a big deal.
Go back to computers, M$.
But leave halo behind, okay?
-Spence.
When the Revolution ships, it will not have HD compatibility. This does not bother me, since I do not own an HDTV and do not intend to purchase one for at least another year.
When the DS shipped, it did not have a web browser function.
I get the feeling that Nintendo will release an add-on to add HD functionality when HD reaches a larger marketshare, and it will still cost less to get a Revolution+HD add-on than the 'full' XBox 360 console or a PS3.
Yes the 360 had greatest console launch ever, if you live in Delusional Realm, and believe M$'s claims.
What I like about the Nintendo spokespeople is they (Harrison, Kaplan & Reggie) are placid type of folk as apposed to M$ spokespeople who are pretencious Evangelists trying to brainwash the public with their fabricated and/or elitists manner. The thing is these Evangelists dont ever want to admit is that no matter how many Online gimmicks/services/patches they offer they can never compete with Nintendo's games that defined console gaming experiences, as apposed to PC experiences.
What I like about Reggie is he is a brilliant Marketing spokeperson (with some astute phylosophies we have noticed over the past 2 years), he is the best in the industry currently, so good in fact that competition such as old-timer Moore now try to copy/emulate Reggie, by making phylopsophical statements such as 360 is the Zen of gaming lol and rubbish like that.
At least when Reggie makes phylosophical statements, he is doing them months before the competition emulate him. Let your right brain run wild.
On the other hand everytime Gates, Bach or Moore move their lips to make a statement, you know they are going to either say something rubbish/exagerated or just annoy the gaming public because their purpose is to intimidate the console gaming community and put them off gamimg. A lot of people stated that their friends are no longer playing games. Its not only because gaming has become stale (hence Nintendo did something about it with a new way to play games such as NDS or Revmote), but if the console gaming community didnt have elitist knobheads like Gates, Bach or Moore, crashing the party then claiming the party is their doing, the console gaming community wouldnt be so bitter or put off.
It is and always will be MS's purpose to enter the console gaming industry and piss off every fanboy/seasoned/real gamer out there through bollock over-exagerated statements/announcements.
Like M$ is superior/greatest/elitists just to piss off all real gamers and get a reaction out of us.
Just like the projected 1BIL userbase for 360. Absolutely bollocks propaganda.
LOL Lets ignore the fact that the 360 launch systems where plagued by bugs (far worse than even ps2 launch systems, which is unacceptable during this day & age, especially when you claim you are elitist).
Let us ignore the fact that 90% of launch titles where crappy non-next-gen EA or MS published games hardly any real gamer cared about. The demand to play those publisher's launch titles was minimal compared to whats launching on future platforms later this year.
Let us ignore the fact that because of the previous fact, if the system actually had enough next-gen software to keep the game media busy (such as g4tv or ign), the media then wouldnt be talking about crappy Arcade Games such as Geometry Wars, especially after all the hype thats gone into dawn of NEXT-NEXT. LOL soon g4tv or ign will be promoting Dreamcast games on Xbox 360.
(PS Tetris DS blows away any Xbox Arcade title to date but heaven forbid when a real game console launches ie. Revolution, with THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of TRUELY CLASSIC games Xbox Live would only dream about having).
Let us ignore all these factors and all put a paper bag over our heads then shove our heads in sand like an ostrich.
M$ "visions" for the future are getting gamers to use it's "spyware" software/services. Thats all the X360 is. I dont buy that shite they are in it for gaming.
Facts, already being prepped for the record books:
-the greatest console launch ever will be the Revolution (30-40% of PS3 buyers will be buying Revolution also. The 30-40% only accounts for the PS3 gamers not other markets that buy PS3 for Media Playing or WebServing etc)
-Revolution launch will have queue lines longer than DSL
-Revolution launch will make mockery of MS's claims that 360 had the biggest launch lineup ever (Revolution Virtual Console undeniably puts to shame Geometry Wars or whatever)
-Twilight Princess will sell 2MIL titles within 2 days even when a next-gen console is out there.
-Smash Bros (launch title) will be one of the most played WiFi titles on ANY console system in 2006, while in comparison PD0 (a competitors online title) will already be in the budget price range LOL. On a side note it would have been nice that when Rare left Nintendo that Rare also took with it the "media tools" such as Matt from ign onto the Xbox division and instead have media that actually understand Nintendo's direction. It took Matt a full 9 months to come to terms what the Revolution was all about, but its too late now trying to justify stupidity.
Also theres no point the media crapping on about no Nintendo online play for years (we all saw what happened to Sega, another real gaming company) then when Nintendo online play comes crap on about it being minimalistic, when the first and foremost issue media or gamers should be concerned about is the actual game thats Online not the service. Now what we'll see this new generation is media continue down the path of comparing which franchises have more online options/services hence is supposedly more superior, rather than which game has better gameplay in the first place, regardless of what tacked-on online options are available.
To top it off all these Records being prepped for later this year will be made/smashed (due to legitimate/loyal demand), Records achieved with minimal (if any) budgets as apposed to M$'s budgets on eg. Halo2 (where marketing/promotions/advertising started 12months before the game even released and took a large chunk out of overall sales turnover, but isnt reported, only the turnover figure is reported).
Any records can be broken. What excessive effort was put in to achieve the record, for the sake of acquiring the record? The fact is Nintendo achieves RECORDS regularily but with minimal fuss. M$ is the type of numbnut corporation that would break the speed record to get a rocket into orbit and if it exploded when it reached orbit, M$ would still claim the speed record for its record books log just so it could claim elitism to the public.
Wouldnt it be awesome if during E3 2006 Nintendo dropped a bombshell on Super Mario 128 being in the launch window for Revolution? Its just been too quiet for that game.
E3 2006, Nintendo should also announce the DSL to be used as optional screen (for the IP Camera peripheral) when playing Revolution games, one screen of the DSL will show your WiFi friend, if user doesnt want to use existing/extra TV/Monitors. And if you want to go further and want a portable IP camera just plug one into GBA slot of the DSL. Too easy. Too simplistic. Too minimalistic. Too ingenius. But not Elitist.
quite frankly, every time he's says "quite frankly", a newborn puppy, quite frankly, dies. Quite frankly.
http://www.laptopbatteryclub.com/