Nintendo News | Iwata Speaks!

By John Boyle 18.05.2006 11

Generally speaking, when Iwata talks the industry listens and post E3 everyone listens that bit more intentively.

So, what we are focusing upon is not only the current gamers, but also those who are not playing with video games at all. That is our goal, so that's why we are not caring so much about our competition with Sony or with Microsoft. We do not care if we can [beat] Sony or if we can [beat] Microsoft or if we can win in the current market-share battle in the same arena at all. That's not our focus. Our focus is whether or not we can increase the game population.

So yet more confirmation that Nintendo are not competing with the other 2 big companies. Now onto new things though and when asked about the new rage of ingame advertising he gave a very interesting answer:

Having said that, however, if you ask me whether that kind of approach can become the huge, main resources for the huge, main revenues in the future, I'm not optimistic, actually. ... Asking customers to pay something monthly, or something periodically, we can never expect that kind of revenue to become the significant, main resources for Nintendo.

More and more costs are required to make complicated software titles nowadays. So they have to find out any other revenue resources right now, and in-game advertisement must be one of them. However, the in-game advertisement or episodic approaches, [those are] kind of the optional, after all. The main source of the revenue resources in this industry must be the video games themselves.

So could we see adverts in Nintendo games? Gillette and Lynx adboards in Mario Kart? Well, wait and see. The interview ends with an uncharacteristically aggressve and Reggie-esque statement when asked if Ninty would be competing with Sony about how high they price their consoles.

No. Of course, if we put the PS3 as the standard price point, any price point is going to be affordable.

Mr Aime is a bad influence on the usually mild mannered Japanese man!

Stick with C3 for more news and check out the full interview at www.thestreet.com

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I will not buy any game brand new that contains in-game ads that I disapprove of.

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

Of course, if we put the PS3 as the standard price point, any price point is going to be affordable.

Smilie
Doesn't sound entirely convincing eg, 'we could launch at

The main source should be video games, absolutely.

But I dont get why that goes agains the idea of eppisodic videogames.

Eppisode games means its cheaper to start with, thus more original games can be made with less risk.
As long as the games stays entertaining, the consumer pays for the next.
You cant trick the public with eppisodic content either. You might advertise it to death, and make them buy the first eppisode, sure.
But if the first one sucks, no one is going to buy the second.

Personaly, I love the idea of buying games in more wallet-friendly chunks.

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I was just reading an article about Sony's strategy. It sounds like they are also not competing in the traditional video game market, either. With the $600 price point, it is clear that they are trying to sell Blu-Ray over video games, video games being the hook. Unfortunately, I think they are a bit early (two or three years) in trying to create a base for the HD movie market. Sure, in two years they will have an advantage, but nobody really cares about watching Blu-Ray movies today, and that won't be their main consideration in buying a video game system. Seriously, there is NOTHING available to eaven watch on Blu-Ray! Anyway, within two years they will have absolutely destroyed their position in the video game market. Is Blu-Ray worth it?

Anyway, interesting comments by Iwata... Everyone is slicing and dicing in their own way. I'm betting on Nintendo for King this time around, though Microsoft has a chance here in the US with their year head start and expensive but real brand equity. We'll see if they can stand up against a cheaper, funner, and deeper cataloged Nintendo Wii (Revolution)! (Worldwide they will lose to Nintendo. No question.)

( Edited on 19.05.2006 02:18 by jmm36 )

I said on IGN, PS3 will be for rich kids who are willing to pay more for less fun. That is my impression post-E3, and I am hearing this from other sources including game developers and potential customers (who are now going with Wii for the most part.)

( Edited on 19.05.2006 02:20 by jmm36 )

I think PS3 may be the new Neo-Geo. Very expensive hardware and games with the advantage of good graphics. The Neo-Geo also suffered from some penalties: there were hundreds of beat'em ups available, but almost no other type of game. PS3 has more type of games available, but if customers buy the console and the games cost 65 EUR (like x360 today), they will buy less games or switch over to piracy.
I though about buying ps3, but I think I stick with Wii only. Why? because the pricing seems okay, games cost up to as much as today (up to 55 EUR).
Who need Devil May Cry anyway? Who needs Zone Of The Enders? Who needs Ico? Grandia, Final Fantasy? *sniff*

I find your lack of faith disturbing!

Its nice to see Iwata continue to distance Nintendo away from Sony and Microsoft. Even at E3 both Sony and M$ comented on Nintendo's distance by saying consumers would by their console and a Wii! I'd be happy to wait for the price of the Wii just a week or so before. They changed it with the GC the week before release...so i'm not bothered....unless it costs

No...please no adds. Our world is getting to damned corporate. I can understand seeing it in a sports game, or GTA type game. But not in a fantasy RPG or mario game. Please don't.

Ive seen it like once in a Nintendo game. Pikmin2 with tha Duracell battery. Im sure there are other examples.

Ive seen it like once in a Nintendo game. Pikmin2 with tha Duracell battery. Im sure there are other examples.

That was a great example, so nice and subtle. Didn't feel obtrusive.

See it depends entirely on the context. In Pikmin it just seems approprite, and you don't even notice it. An extra 5 second clip of Sam Fisher chewing some Airwaves gum however is noticeable.

Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society

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