Satoru Iwata
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Iwata addresses Wii's future and 3DS at investors briefing
Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata recently spoke to his close circle of super best friends -- hereafter referred to as Nintendo's investors -- about the future of the company's gaming hardware, and how said hardware will translate directly into monies for their wallets. According to Andriasang's translation of the briefing, Iwata shot down the possibility of revealing a successor to Nintendo's home console any time soon, adding, "we believe there's still more we can do with the Wii." Sure there is! You can paint it different colors. On the subject of the Nintendo 3DS, Iwata explained the seemingly random March 23 announcement date was set to give third-party developers a chance to come up with something for the platform in time for E3. He mentioned these developers may incur a bit more development costs on these projects due to the "trial and error" involved in creating 3D games, but wouldn't comment on how these costs might translate over to consumer software prices for the console. He also revealed that "the announcement of the formal name [of the 3DS] will not be too far off," meaning it's time to go place your bets with your friendly neighborhood Video Game Technology Marketing bookie. (As of this writing, even money's on "Nintendo Virtual Boy 2.")
Nintendo: Apple is 'enemy of the future'
Only two months ago, the official word from gaming giant Nintendo was that they weren't worried about competition from Apple. But according to Times Online, Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, has instructed his subordinates to consider Nintendo victorious over Sony. Instead, Nintendo now considers Apple its "enemy of the future." Iwata's remarks come as no surprise given the downturn in sales of Nintendo's consoles. Sales of the Wii are down nearly 21 percent year over year, and the company's net profits have seen an almost identical decline. While Nintendo hasn't been selling either the Wii or the DS as technological powerhouses, Times Online correctly notes that both platforms are starting to show their age. It's only a matter of time before the iPhone, iPod, and iPad catch up to or even surpass the capabilities of Nintendo's offerings unless Nintendo introduces new hardware, and soon. There's more than enough room in the market for both companies to sell their wares, of course. Nintendo has a singular focus as a games maker, while Apple seems to be taking a page from Sony in becoming a more generalized consumer electronics company. Apple's recent focus on gaming on its portables is reportedly something that Steve Jobs himself embraced with reluctance. Not only is it unlikely that Apple's portables will kill off Nintendo, it's unlikely that Apple even wants to do so. Personally, I was worried about Nintendo's prognosis when they were dismissing Apple out of hand; now that the company seems committed to taking Apple seriously as a competitor, Nintendo's future looks a lot rosier to me. [Via MacRumors]
Nintendo 3DS handheld to offer switchable 2D mode, thankfully
It was pretty much implied when "backward compatibility" was listed as a feature of Nintendo's new 3DS handheld back in March. But it's good to hear that 3D gameplay can be easily switched off, direct from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, when headaches or nausea set in during marathon sessions. This should also ease concerns from parents over any adverse effects that long term exposure to parallax barrier gameplay could have on their children's developing eyes. Besides, a 2D mode is desirable in that we expect it to offer a brighter image (especially when viewing off-center), better text reading experience, and a wider angle of view for sharing the display. Now, we know what you're wondering: what about that new 3.4-inch glasses-less 3D touchscreen display from Sharp, is it 2D switchable? Yup, lending more credibility that we'll see it on the 3DS when the handheld gaming console is fully revealed at E3 next month.
Iwata explains Super Mario Galaxy 2 tutorial DVD
In his presentation to investors, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed that Super Mario Galaxy 2 would include a bonus tutorial DVD, and that said DVD would be exclusive to Europe and Japan. Iwata called the "Super Mario Galaxy 2 For Beginners" video "a visual manual for first-timers for 3D Mario." It includes basic information about how to play Super Mario Galaxy 2, as well as "Super Play" footage showing advanced techniques for more seasoned Mario fans. He also addressed the obvious complaint about the DVD: "Some may feel this is unusual because Wii does not have a DVD playback capability, but given the wide penetration of DVD players at home, we have concluded that it is most useful for the players if they can confirm the contents even while they are playing with Wii and decided to provide the footage in DVD format." You can see a snippet of footage from the Japanese version of the DVD in the presentation. And you can see the latest trailer from Nintendo of America, featuring Bee Mario, after the break.
Iwata: 3D functionality of Nintendo 3DS can be turned off
Afraid that the jump-off-the-screen 3D effects promised by Nintendo's next handheld (code-named the 3DS) will become tiresome and overly gimmicky? Addressing concerns that there may be possible health consequences with 3D gaming, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata assured Forbes that the 3D function can be turned off easily, allowing players to enjoy games in a more traditional 2D manner. While little else is known about the device, it seems like a smart move to ensure Nintendo's next system is attractive to as wide of an audience as possible. Of course, we may change our minds after its E3 debut -- perhaps the 3D effect will be so captivating that we'll be unable to think of gaming in any other way. [Via GoNintendo]
Nintendo CEO: battle with Sony is over, Apple is the 'enemy of the future'
Backing away from a previous position, are we Nintendo? Just a month after Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime claimed that the iPhone OS (you know, that operating system used on the iPod touch, iPhone family and the iPad) wasn't a "viable profit platform for game development," along comes the company's president to say that, in fact, Apple is the primary "enemy of the future." That's according to Times Online, who says that the Big N's CEO (Satoru Iwata) feels that the battle with Sony is a "victory already won," and who clearly believes that the next wave of gaming won't be of the traditional sit-on-your-coach-and-slam-buttons variety. 'Course, the PSP never has been able to hang with the DS family, but even the Wii has a ways to go before it catches the mighty PlayStation 2 in terms of global sales. Going forward, the company is purportedly looking to revive the element of "surprise" in Nintendo products, but it might be best served by simply catching up to the competition and supporting this wild concept known as "HD gaming" over "HDMI."
'Wii Party' revealed by Iwata (think: Mario Party with Miis)
Screenshot party in the gallery!During his financial results briefing to investors, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed the next game in the company's flagship "Wii" series: Wii Party. The game, Iwata said, is designed to be a "marquee party game for Wii" -- akin to Mario Party minus some of the frills, like the board-game framing or the Waluigi. You could also think of it like any of the dozens of minigame collections already available for the Wii, but with the potential to be good. Wii Party joins Wii Sports and sequel Resort, Wii Play, the Wii Fits, and (cough) Wii Music in the Wii-branded game series. The party game stars player-created Miis (instead of Mario characters) and includes a "Living Party" mode that uses just the Wiimote. 1–4-player games shown in screenshots include sugoroku (the Japanese board game that's also the basis for WiiWare's Family Pirate Party), "International Vacation Game," "Mii Jyan," roulette, and bingo; and 1–2-player games, filed in the "Pair Party" category, include Mii compatibility check, "Balance Ship" and Mii Match. "Nintendo has not launched a marquee party game since Mario Party 8, launched in summer 2007," Iwata told investors (through translation). "However, since Wii is usually being played by several people at once and the global sales of Mario Party have reached 7.6 million units, a party title has great potential. This is one of the titles which, we hope, will play an important role for this fiscal year." In other words, Wii Party will be released, at least in Japan, before the end of March 2011. The best thing about Wii Party? It'll allow Nyko to bring back the canceled Party Station as a game-specific accessory. %Gallery-92519% [Via Kotaku]
Nintendo collaborated with Capcom on the Classic Controller Pro
In a new Iwata Asks feature with Capcom's Ryozo Tsujimoto and Kaname Fujioka, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed just how closely Nintendo worked with Capcom to ensure the success of Monster Hunter Tri. Not only did the hardware manufacturer create a new controller, the Classic Controller Pro, but it actually consulted Capcom about it. "I'm just gonna go ahead and say it," Iwata said, "but we even discussed where the best place for the analogue sticks would be." Fujioka expressed the team's relative shock at Nintendo's openness. "To be honest, when we were first asked that, I thought, 'Is it all right for us to decide?'," Fujioka said. We said what we thought would be a good spot for the analogue sticks, and when it turned out just like that, I was surprised." Of course, that spot is "exactly where they are on the PS2 controller," but that's due to Capcom's choice!
Nintendo 3DS handheld announced, more news at E3
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Nintendo_s_next_handheld_has_3D_without_the_glasses'; A press release on Nintendo's Japanese website appears to confirm the company's next handheld console, temporarily named the "Nintendo 3DS," and said to include hardware and software that will enable "3D effects" without the need for special glasses. The console is stated to be backwards compatible with DS and DSi games and is expected to go on sale (in Japan, presumably) "during the fiscal year ending March 2011" -- so within the next year. The press release has no pictures or other information, and save for the fact that it appears as a file on Nintendo's website, there's no other official word about the new hardware. There are a few dots to connect, however: 3D gaming is on the rise, and a few other companies have also experimented with head tracking as a way to implement 3D effects. Nintendo's own Satoru Iwata hasn't been impressed with 3D gaming in the past, but his issue is with the glasses, not the technology. "I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home," he said recently. We've also heard that the next handheld would have a "movement sensor" of some kind, so if Nintendo really has designed a head-tracking 3D solution, then maybe the console is ready to go. The press release, which you can read after the break in full, says we'll see more at E3, so stay tuned. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] Source -- Nintendo (PDF)
WarioWare DIY was in planning since the DS was called 'Iris'
In an Iwata Asks interview about the upcoming WarioWare DIY, Nintendo president and expert interviewer Satoru Iwata revealed a previously unknown codename for the system that would become the Nintendo DS: Iris. "Iris was the codename of a next-generation device we were exploring to succeed the Game Boy Advance-in other words, before development of the Nintendo DS," Iwata explained. "Eventually, it became a two-screen device with the codename Nitro, which went out into the world as the Nintendo DS. So, broadly speaking, Iris was the foundation for the Nintendo DS." And surprisingly, Software Planning Development's Gorou Abe had been thinking about a WarioWare microgame creator since the DS was called Iris. WarioWare DIY has been a long time coming. Elsewhere in the (fascinating) interview, it's revealed that some of the included microgames were made by debuggers during the QA process, who made microgames as part of testing. [Via Siliconera]
Iwata: Wii successor needs 'something new' beyond HD
In Nintendo's recent quarterly investor Q&A, president Satoru Iwata discussed the possibility of an HD-followup to the Wii. "If asked if making the Wii compatible with high definition -- just making it compatible with high resolution -- will get players throughout the world to buy it," he said (as translated by Andriasang), "I would of course say, 'Do you think it would sell with just that? It needs something new.'" Note that his statement isn't a denial of an HD Nintendo system at all. Iwata also addressed the contested statements he allegedly gave to the Asahi Shimbun about a DS successor. The newspaper reported that he said it would have motion-sensing and "highly detailed" graphics, a claim that Iwata later said was "misinterpreted." Iwata helped clarify the situation further in the investor Q&A, suggesting that the reporter led him to that statement. According to Iwata, the reporter asked, "The next DS will need to have high resolution graphics and include a motion sensor, wouldn't you say?" to which he responded, "Those are naturally considered requirements. However, do you believe it will sell with just this?" All together now: It needs something new!
Sony: iPad consumers will graduate to the PSP
We've already heard from Nintendo's Satoru Iwata on Apple's most recent handheld (spoilers: he doesn't care about it), but the Wall Street Journal recently asked Sony's John Koller how his company's reacting to the device. Rather than outright dismissing it like the Nintendo prez, though, he said he's looking to the iPad for boosted PSP sales. Seriously. "Apple's entrance into the portable gaming space has been a net positive for Sony ... when people want a deeper, richer console, they start playing on a PSP." In fairness, it's part of Koller's job to rep Sony in these situations, but it's not exactly impossible to argue with his logic in this case -- as the WSJ points out, sales of the PSP have "nearly tripled" since June 2007 (when the iPhone first launched). This would normally be the point where we point out other mitigating factors in year-over-year sales increases (say, games like God of War: Chains of Olympus and GTA: Chinatown Wars coming out, or a new console iteration being released), but we'll leave the comments section below to handle that. %Gallery-84102%
Iwata unimpressed by iPad, 3D gaming
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has registered his apparent disinterest in two recent technological innovations. First, Iwata dismissed Apple's iPad, a potential DSi XL competitor. "It's just a bigger iPod Touch," he said of the big iPod Touch unveiled this week. As for 3D gaming, which was all the rage at CES, "I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home," Iwata told the Associated Press, "How is that going to look to other people?'' Can you imagine standing on a board and flapping your arms like a giant bird -- with glasses on? Humiliating. Iwata offered few hints as to what new technology would be adopted by Nintendo, saying only that there was some form of new hardware in the works. Additionally, he seemingly denied previous "speculation" about the reported features of a new Nintendo handheld. "I question whether those features would be enough to get people to buy new machines," Iwata said, referring to the possible addition of a motion sensor to a new handheld.
Nintendo said Ninten-no to Project Natal in 2007?
Great balls of console wars fire! A top-level Nintendo insider has revealed that the motion-controlled gaming setup we now know as Project Natal was offered to the Japanese company way back in 2007 and promptly turned down because it was considered too expensive. We're told this decision came from supremo Satoru Iwata himself, who was worried about latency and the purported inability to sell it at "mass-market prices." This implies, of course, that 3DV Systems was fully responsible for Natal -- which Microsoft staunchly denies -- but CVG seems to consider its informant's words to be beyond suspicion. All we know for sure is that the stuff's coming, and awkwardness at house parties is about to reach a whole new level.
Nintendo: Iwata's DS2 comments were 'misinterpreted'
[Reuters] We all know a brand-new Nintendo handheld is coming eventually, but in what seems like an effort to detract from the buzz surrounding such a device (and likely to get some of that buzz back on the latest DS revision, the DSi XL), Nintendo has issued a statement regarding reported comments from Iwata on a new handheld -- what we've affectionately dubbed the "DS2." Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications told Kotaku, "Mr. Iwata did not make any comments regarding the functions of Nintendo's future hardware systems," adding that Iwata's statements as reported by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper were "misinterpreted." As for those statements, it seems to be a given that Nintendo would add motion-sensing technology to its next handheld. Looking to ape the Wii's success, the entire industry has moved in the direction of motion-based gaming -- including Microsoft, with Project Natal, Sony, using the PlayStation Motion Controller, and Apple, a direct competitor in the portable market, chiefly with the IPod Touch. And let's not forget, motion control isn't out of the realm of possiblity for the current Nintendo handheld.
Nintendo sez DS successor will sport motion control, better graphics; Wii Vitality Sensor in July
In an interview with Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata provided some rare commentary on what we might expect from a DS successor – not just another DS revision, mind you – whenever the gaming giant gets the urge to upgrade its golden goose. "[It will have] highly detailed graphics," Iwata said, giving ample (but obvious!) fuel to those NVIDIA Tegra on DS rumors. "And it will be necessary to have a sensor with the ability to read the movements of people playing." Now, before you do that annoying cough thing while saying "iPhone" under your breath, we'd like to remind you that Nintendo isn't really an also-ran to this motion-controlled gaming thing. Iwata made a point of saying that an iPhone-esque monthly cellular data plan wasn't in the works; however, that doesn't rule out a Kindle-like data service for the future handheld, as the executive previously mused about, providing for "free" gaming downloads on the go. Now that the boring kid stuff has been put to bed, we can take the mature news out of the cabinet: The pulse-detecting Wii Vitality Sensor will make an appearance at a press conference in July (hey, that's E3 time) with plans for a release "as soon as possible." We trust you guys can take care of the old people jokes yourselves, right?
Iwata: DS2 to feature movement sensor, new Wii Zelda coming 2010
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has offered the first concrete information about the next DS system -- as in, not the next revision of the current DS, but the true next Nintendo handheld system -- in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. "[It will have] highly detailed graphics," Iwata said, "and it will be necessary to have a sensor with the ability to read the movements of people playing." Sort of like the iPhone, yes, but Nintendo isn't exactly an also-ran in the field of motion-controlled gaming. Iwata declined to specify a release window for this DS2 -- or a better name than our suggestion. Iwata also addressed potential service changes for both the current DS network and its successor, suggesting that there would be no "monthly service plan" offered for games. He indicated that Nintendo was looking to increase the number of businesses that host DS Wi-Fi hotspots instead of supporting a 3G-like service (à la Kindle or iPhone) for the DS. The "Mac de DS" service Nintendo provides in partnership with McDonald's offers free wireless connections for the handheld, along with exclusive downloadable content. In Wii news, Iwata dropped one bomb that will delight fans ... and one that will probably initiate eyerolls. First, the good news: The new Zelda game -- sort of revealed at E3 last year -- is scheduled for release by the end of 2010. And now, that other news: The Wii Vitality Sensor, the bizarre biofeedback attachment also unveiled at E3, will be released somewhere in the neighborhood of July, following a press conference about the device. [Via Kotaku]
Iwata Asks: 25 years with Miyamoto's dev posse
In the most recent edition of Iwata Asks, Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata gathers up Takashi Tezuka and Toshihiko Nakago for a thorough discussion of their time with the company, the many projects they've worked on and their 25-year-long partnership with Shigeru Miyamoto. Let's break it down: Takashi Tezuka and Toshihiko Nakago both started at Nintendo around 1984, helping to shape everything from Balloon Fight to Super Mario Bros. These guys were part of the team that developed Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda -- at the same time. During the 10-page chat, a plethora of interesting tidbits are revealed about some of the game industry's most influential Nintendo titles. Did you know that Zelda was initially designed as a dungeon game without an overworld? Or, how about the revelation that World 1-1 was created last, after the rest of the levels in Super Mario Bros., and designed implicitly to teach the game to non-gamers? The chat even gets into the lurid sleeping arrangements of Miyamota-san and Nakago-san while on business trips for ExciteBike (spoiler: it's not that lurid).
Miyamoto thinks his college degree wouldn't get him a job at Nintendo today
In the upcoming issue of Edge Magazine, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto discusses a variety of topics with the UK gaming magazine. Develop Online got their hands on a copy of the magazine already, revealing a rather ... revealing quote from the father of Donkey Kong. "Nintendo has become one of those companies that graduates from colleges and good universities really want to work for ... I often say to [Nintendo head] Mr. Iwata: 'If I was applying for a job here today, I, with my actual college degree, would probably not have been employed by Nintendo." Though he adds that he "might pick up on [applicants] and try to find out something really different within them which you can't judge just by a college degree," it worries us greatly that today's equivalent of the man who helped to birth some of the game industry's landmark franchises may end up unemployed or even dissuaded from game development altogether. All alone! Without a home! We imagine somewhat like a rolling stone! ... Our apologies. That was quite enough.
Iwata voices interest in Kindle-like free 3G service for DS
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has gone on the record with the Financial Times as being "interested" in the strategy Amazon has adopted for free internet access on its Kindle eBook reader. "I'm interested because it's a new business model in which the user doesn't bear the communications cost," he told the publication.There's no fee for accessing Amazon's "WhisperNet" 3G network on Kindle, as the cost is built into the price of the device up-front. Taking a similar route with DS would mean the handheld would have a free, "always on" connection, something PSP doesn't and mobile platforms such as the iPhone do, but at the cost of a cellular data plan. "Only people who can pay thousands of yen a month [in mobile phone subscriptions] can be iPhone customers. That doesn't fit Nintendo customers because we make amusement products," Iwata said. Such a move would definitely expose more DSi (and DSi XL) buyers -- especially those without access to home WiFi networks -- to Nintendo's DSi Store, but Iwata admits there would be mixed reactions among consumers, saying, "In reality, if we did this it would increase the cost of the hardware, and customers would complain about Nintendo putting prices up, but it is one option for the future."[Via Pocket Gamer]
