SatoruIwata
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Iwata says Nintendo tried and rejected camera-based motion control
It wasn't all that hard to see a bit of a brouhaha erupting now that all three console makers are more or less firmly committed to motion-control technology, but it's still always notable when one of the big three throws a shot across the bow, and Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata did just that in a recent interview with the Financial Times. According to Iwata, Nintendo actually tried out camera-based motion control technology similar to what both MIcrosoft and Sony have now adopted, but found that it got better results with the accelerometer-based tech that ultimately wound up in the Wii remote. Iwata did also say, however, that "until they say when they're releasing it, how much it costs and what software it comes with, we won't know whether that is the route we should have taken," although he added that he thought "they couldn't choose to release exactly the same thing" that Nintendo did.[Via Joystiq]
Nintendo admits to scrapping new handheld plans in the past three years
Nintendo's talkative global president Satoru Iwata turned a few heads when he told CNBC that the company had another handheld gaming system completed and ready for production sometime in the past three years, but that it ultimately decided not to release it. Though he didn't give any details on the handheld, he did say that, "in the history of Nintendo cnbc_comboQuoteMove('popup_ntdoy_ID0EGF15839609'); there are several such examples." We can only hope that some kind of wild, awesome Gameboy prototype hits our desk one day. Nintendo's most recent handheld, the DSi, has moved over a million units, including around 435,000 during its first week of sale in the U.S. [Via Joystiq]
Nintendo's Iwata: Wii could be around for three, five, or eight more years
He's still not firmly committing to quite as long a console lifespan as Microsoft and Sony have, but Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has now dropped word that the Wii could be around in its current state for longer than some may have suspected. In a wide ranging interview with VentureBeat, Iwata responded to a question about console life cycles by saying that when it comes to timing for a new Nintendo console launch, "it may be three years from now, five years from now or eight years from now." Iwata further went on to say that, "if we have an opportunity to make a new console, it will probably support HD," although he disappointingly added that Nintendo has "not found a significant reason" to make the current Wii HD-compatible "at this time."[Via MCV]
Nintendo president squashes talk of Wii price cuts
Incredible as it sounds, it looks like Nintendo isn't planning on slashing the price of the console it can still barely keep on store shelves. That word comes straight from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who's attempting to clamp down on recent speculation that a Wii price cut could be in the offing, which seemed at least a tad more plausible considering that the manufacturing costs for the console have supposedly dropped significantly since its launch. According to Iwata, rather than trying to drive up sales numbers even further with a price cut, Nintendo will instead be putting "more energy and time into making better entertainment so that our products are going to remain in the top position in our customer's wish lists" -- and now with Disc Dog, in the top position in our hearts.
Nintendo DSi coming Stateside by summer 2009, tomorrow in Japan
Nintendo's tip-toeing around an overseas, US release date of its new DSi handheld has now been narrowed to the summer of 2009, according to president Satoru Iwata. That's a whole lot better than "well into" 2009 if you ask us. Meanwhile, Japan gets theirs starting Saturday for ¥18,900 or about $192 tax-inclusive -- that's up from $178 earlier this month thanks to a skyrocketing Yen. Nintendo has already shipped 200,000 of the slimmer, dual-cam handheld consoles in preparation for weekend sales with another 100,000 planned for the following week. Clearly there's no such thing as an economic slowdown in the land that Mario built.
Iwata says Nintendo plans to go easy on the accessories for now
Apparently not willing to let things get to the point that someone has to step in and say, "enough already," Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently told The Wall Street Journal that the company will be easing up on the number of accessories it releases for the Wii. More specifically, he said that, with the upcoming release of the Wii MotionPlus and Wii Speak add-ons, "most of the ideas for accessories that we had initially come up with are out now," and that while they "might think up some more," they "don't have any plans to release a whole lot more." Of course, we're guessing that's not a sentiment echoed by third-party manufacturers, who we're sure we can count on to keep on cluttering up the living rooms of Wii owners the world over.[Via Joystiq]
Nintendo actually not resting on its laurels, already working on the Wii's successor
No need to phone in the shock police -- you had to know this was coming. After all, what kind of stockholder-pleasing company would Nintendo be if it wasn't already thinking about how to top the Wii? According to information in a recent Forbes piece surveying the field of gaming consoles, Nintendo is "already working on the Wii's successor." President Satoru Iwata shared that the Big N was "always preparing for the next hardware," though it would be unwise to expect said hardware anytime soon. With Wii consoles still hard (or at least not "easy") to come by in some locales, we'd say Nintendo is in no hurry to move beyond its current cash cow. Still, even Iwata admits that it "will be difficult" to exceed expectations now that the Wii has proven so successful. Not really, though -- throw in high-def support and you've got an entirely more lovable machine.[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Nintendo says no to MMOs
Well, there go our dreams for a PokéMMO; Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has confirmed that Nintendo has no interest in developing an MMO at this time, possibly putting to rest the rumor of a massively multiplayer version of Animal Crossing, as well as any hope for Nintendo further broadening their online offerings.Specifically, Iwata stated that Nintendo would only pursue MMO development if the title could appeal to people of all ages, from "5 to 95." Looking at Second Life, Iwata belives that MMOs aren't yet accessible to people without a fair degree of computer literacy, and that Nintendo would want to successfully cross that bridge before considering going the MMO route.The answer bums us out a bit, but at least it shows that Nintendo isn't entirely close-minded to the possibility. Maybe we'll someday get a PokéMMO after all?[Via Massively]
Iwata on lack of Wii Sports sequel
Considering the lengthy conversation between Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and Mother creator Shigesato Itoi over dinner six months ago, we're beginning to wonder if they consumed any actual food at their meal. Where did they find the time? So long as they didn't starve, however, we're glad to be privy to their chat, since so many interesting tidbit have come to light. The latest is on something close to our hearts: Wii Sports.Is Nintendo considering a sequel to the popular pack-in? Maybe, says Iwata, but it's not something that's even in the planning stages at this time. The last thing Nintendo wants to do is take the "easy" way, he says, by slapping together something that's exactly the same, just with different sports featured. Our love for Iwata was renewed in spades as he spoke about the need to do something new rather than to rehash old ground just to make money. If we were feeling snarky, we might bring up a few franchises (like, say Mario Kart ... even though we love it, it tends to be pretty much Mario Kart), but Nintendo has been forging so much new ground lately that we'll let it slide. Some might argue that Nintendo did exactly what Iwata is talking about not doing with the recent Brain Age sequel, but the big man is quick to point out that the director of the titles has been breaking new ground himself: he's responsible for several of the Wii's channels. Iwata did make the point, however, that it 's easier for Nintendo to take this stance right now because they're doing so well. If they weren't, he said, they might scramble to those "easy" sequels and decisions just to keep the boat afloat. We just wish other companies who are also in the black might take a similar line. Sure, the same game with slight tweaks may sell every year, but does it improve or expand the industry? Does it produce better games for everyone? [Via Infendo]
Iwata: Nintendo won't 'do the easy'
When Nintendo president Satoru Iwata refuses to "do the easy," you may think he's merely declining to perform some sort of elaborate dance maneuver. Given its name, we imagine such a dance move simply entails lying face down on the floor and remaining motionless until everyone else has gone home. It makes perfect sense really, as Iwata isn't going to take things lying down (see the connection there?) when it comes to a Wii Sports sequel.Simply adding new sports isn't good enough, he explained in an on-going series of discussions posted on Mother designer Shigesato Itoi's news blog, Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun. "We're not going to take such an easy way, not by including seven new sports in the game since Wii Sports has five," said Iwata." We're not closing our doors to the possibility of a sequel, but it's definitely not coming out soon." He goes on to say that if Nintendo hopes to continue expanding its audience, the element of surprise is vital. And what affords Nintendo the opportunity to explore new things and have unexpected games pop out of their little white box? "But realistically, I think we can say 'we won't do the easy' because we are currently making profit."
Iwata promises Nintendo will continue to print money
Nintendo may be top dog, but if Satoru Iwata has anything to say about it, no one in the company will be wasting time basking in the glow of success. With all their recent success, he told Newsweek's N'Gai Croal way back at E3, the company's biggest challenge right now is pretty basic: don't let it get to them. "I believe my most important role right now is to prevent Nintendo from being in a company where people say, 'Oh, Nintendo is arrogant,' 'Nintendo has let its guard down,' or 'Nintendo has lost its challenging spirit.' We want to avoid all of the pitfalls that can come from losing one's momentum." It's a very sensible goal, and we've seen this sort of determination from Iwata before.Though most of the article is about the new kid on the block, Iwata makes a lot of comparisons to the cycle of the DS, particularly in regard to the increase of third party titles relative to Nintendo's own games. And hey, if you have to follow anyone, the DS has certainly set up an excellent model!One of the more interesting parts of the interview reveals some of the motivation behind a strategy many "hardcore" gamers are decrying: Nintendo's focus on "games for everyone." Iwata believes that part of the reason the recent Zelda title, Twilight Princess, didn't do as well in Japan as he'd hoped was due to a perception that the game was too difficult for many gamers. But Twilight Princess continues to sell there well after release, so obviously the PR machine's more recent focus has helped to change the game's reputation. Iwata also pressed the point about market expansion both here, as it relates to the Wii, gamers of all types, and the untapped hordes waiting to become gamers, but also in light of the DS and Nintendo's success there in bringing gaming to the masses. We can't wait to get our hands on Phantom Hourglass to see all of this put to the test ... and perhaps we'll convince some non-gaming friends to give it a try as well. [Via Joystiq]
Nintendo's Iwata wary of becoming complacent
When your system is flying off shelves faster than you can produce them, it's easy to simply lean back and play some Phantom Hourglass on your delightful money printer. Speaking to Newsweek's N'Gai Croal during E3, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has expressed some concern about lapsing into just such a state. While he's obviously pleased with his company's mainstream success thus far, he feels Nintendo should avoid just laughing to the bank on autopilot."That's probably Nintendo's next obstacle is to not lose its internal energy and internal momentum," said Iwata. "I believe my most important role right now is to prevent Nintendo from being in a company where people say, 'Oh, Nintendo is arrogant,' 'Nintendo has let its guard down,' or 'Nintendo has lost its challenging spirit.' We want to avoid all of the pitfalls that can come from losing one's momentum." The introduction of Wii Fit and resolution of inadequate Wii production should keep the wrecking ball swinging through the casual gamer barrier -- but what of the longterm Nintendo fans? Listing games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy, Iwata explains that Nintendo has no intention of abandoning core players. "Still, we really believe that part of our mission is to make traditional games for our traditional audience." Just so long they don't involve carpenter tools.
Wii Warm Up: Executive power
In the past several years, it seems the reputation of gaming industry executives has begun to reach epic levels, proportionate, perhaps, to the spread of gaming as a culture. But we're also starting to think that maybe the corporate hype machines are getting a little out of control. What matters more, personality or product? Maybe it's just us, but it seems the lines are beginning to blur.We can understand a healthy dose of Miyamoto-worship -- the man is a legend in the industry, and he's responsible for more of our cherished childhood memories than we'd like to admit. And sure, we love Reggie, and Iwata is the man (by that, we mean one hell of a savvy businessman), but is it really their personalities that make Nintendo what it is right now? No, it's certainly their skills ... so what's with all the executive worship that is spreading throughout gaming communities? Is it just that industry execs are out in the open more and more often, or is it something else? After all, most of the people that we're chasing in the industry are just in marketing. They're not doing much to create the things we spend our time on; they're just a face. A name. No different than mascot characters -- it's just now that we're growing up, apparently Sonic and Mario can't bear the brunt of the console wars any longer, and we've moved on to Reggie and pre-exodus Peter Moore. But let us know what you think -- that's why we're here.
Iwata says: PS2, we're looking at you
Could the Wii end up outselling the PS2? Satoru Iwata seems to think so -- at least, that's what he told Reuters in a recent interview. He even waved away the impending PS3 price drop and redesigned PSP as likely having little-to-no effect on sales of the Wii and DS.The PS2, however, is a legendary juggernaut in the world of consoles, with more than 120 million units shipped to date. The Wii is estimated to hit around 20 million by next March, and if Nintendo wants to catch the PS2, they better fix that whole shortage problem. But it's still early in the cycle of the system, and at the current rate, anything is possible.
Japanese stores overflowing with DS titles - Iwata on the case
So many DS games are fighting for shelf space that Japanese stores are having trouble squeezing them all in. Space is now at such a premium that most games have to be displayed spine-out, making things difficult for consumers, particularly the army of first time gamers that Nintendo has been so successful in attracting. Nintendo's butt-kicking boss, President Iwata, is concerned that too much choice may lead to consumers missing out on the best games. They may even turn their backs on gaming completely. Keeping standards high is, he says, "one of the most critical themes for us to combat this year." Having recently bitch-slapped Nintendo of America, and clipped the sails of Korean pirates, it seems Nintendo expects Japan to pull its socks up, too.[Via Game | Life]
Iwata lays the smack down on Nintendo of America
Not content with his company's record earnings, Nintendo's Satoru Iwata dropped the smack on Nintendo of America's lackluster sales, citing a unique inability to unload copies of DS phenom Brain Age. Said Iwata, "When I received a report from the U.S. that they sold 1 million Pokémon Diamond & Pearl already, I asked them, 'why did you sell only 10,000 Brain Age last week, when Europe sold through 30,000?' This is a typical example of how I communicate with our people in the U.S." Typical? Instantly, our image of NoA's towering Reggie Fils-Aime simultaneously kicking asses while jotting down names (in cursive, mind you) has been replaced with one of Iwata flipping over boardroom desks while asking ... nay, demanding to know why Nintendo can't seem to make a dent in America!Mr. Iwata, if we may be so bold as to make a suggestion that we feel may help contribute to even higher record earnings and additional piles of cash to swim in: make more consoles. You see, the DS Lite and Wii have been relatively scarce since last December! Don't worry folks, Iwata's on top of it. He says, "a small increase [in production] is expected at the retail outlets from next month." Wait, that's this month. Don't blow it, Reggie or you know who's gonna come knocking.[Thanks, Josh; via DS Fanboy]
Iwata: Expect more Wiis in stores this month
The whole text of Nintendo's financial results briefing is worth reading (and would be mandatory if we could assign homework), but we'd especially like to point out this quote from Satoru Iwata: "As this month's production will be sold in the worldwide markets by the end of the next month, a small increase is expected at the retail outlets from next month." We knew that Nintendo was looking into expanding production, but could we already see results?This report is from the end of April, so "next month" probably refers to May. We hope the statement is accurate and that the supply of Wiis increases from none to some very soon!
Iwata invites Kutaragi to work for Nintendo? Hell no!
We can't confirm the statement, but if you're inclined to believe GoNintendo's report, apparently at a financial press conference Nintendo head Satoru Iwata invited Sony's departing Ken "PlayStation" Kutaragi to join up with the Wii-maker. The irony is, of course, rich. Besides being bloody rivals for over a decade, Ken Kutaragi was also the dude who hooked Nintendo into its fabled (failed) late-80s partnership with Sony to add CD-ROM capabilities to the SNES; the eventual demise of that business relationship resulted in the original PlayStation, and Nintendo's biggest single competitor since. So will Kutaragi join up with the 117-year-old upstart from Kyoto? Something tells us probably not, but man, would that first day of work ever be aaawkwaaard.[Via PS3 Fanboy]Update: Our Japanese bureau had a crack at this one, and they found the story is pretty wrong, to say the least. According to a Bloomberg report, Iwata-san was asked whether Nintendo would make a bid for Kutaragi; the answer, which we found to be a little more realistic, had Mr. Iwata saying, "I don't think that will happen." Sorry Ken, doesn't look like anyone wants you right now. Have you thought about Microsoft?
DS Daily: Prepare for the coming flood
It's time to start sticking to a strict budget, because Nintendo has a veritable flood of titles in development. In a recent news conference, President Iwata promised that Nintendo has 45 new games on the way for the Wii, and 79 for the DS. We're either looking at entire new packs of Nintendogs and herds of 'Pokemans,' or we're all going to be very poor, very soon. With that many games, anything is possible! Got any predictions (or prayers)? All we can say is, maybe Nintendo is cooking up some sinister plan to crush the gaming industry beneath its heel after. If all 124 games are up to Nintendo's usual standard, then we guess it's a remote possibility.
Iwata makes Barron's list, makes other game CEOs cry
Barron's annual list of the 30 Best CEOs has a new addition, and we're proud to name him among the lords and masters of our wallets. The Wii's ridiculous success (and the fact that you can't get one) brought Satoru Iwata to the attention of the financial weekly's listmakers, who also recognized such perennial favorites as Steve Jobs. Not only that, but Iwata is the only game industry CEO to make the list. The common thread among these "best" chiefs? They deliver. Wow, it's like those finance fellas are speaking our language. We figure it's about time someone made a Wii version of our favorite picture. Who's with us?[Via Infendo]
