Reggie Fils-Aime Laments 'Insatiable' Gamers
Can't tell the difference between a hit and a 'ho hum' title.
E3 2012
With Nintendo angling more towards its hardcore audience with the 3DS and Wii U, it probably doesn't make sense for Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime to call them out for being 'insatiable' gamers who are impossible to please. But, he went and did it anyway.
The executive appeared to show exasperation at feedback following its E3 press conference, noting that people were not satisfied with reveals of Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land.
"One of the things that, on one hand, I love and, on the other hand, that troubles tremendously about not only our fanbase but the gaming community at large is that, whenever you show information, the perspective is: 'Thank you, but I want more. Thank you, but give me more'. I mean, it is insatiable," he said in a recent interview.
"For years this community has been asking, 'Where's Pikmin? Where's Pikmin? Where's Pikmin?' We give them Pikmin. And then they say: 'What else?'
"For years this community has said: 'Dammit Reggie, when you launch, you better launch with a Mario game'. So we launch with a Mario game, and they say, 'So, what's more?'
"I have heard people say, 'You know, you've got these fantastic franchises. Beyond what you're doing in Smash Bros, isn't there a way to leverage all these franchises?' So we create Nintendo Land and they say: 'Ho-hum. Give me more'. It's an interesting challenge."
Reggie also opined that the gamer community isn't really the best collective judge of character when it comes to spotting a successful franchise. "What's the fan community reaction [to Nintendogs and Wii Fit]? 'Ho-hum'. Until it sells millions of copies. When we showed Wii Fit on stage… go back and read your blogs, what was the reaction?
"It's a question of, as a gamer, 'Is this for me and something I can get excited about?' And Wii Fit did not get that reaction. And yet, [it sold] 43 million copies around the world. It's a phenomenon. And so I would argue that the gaming community is unable to differentiate between a phenomenon and something that is 'ho-hum'."
Source: Kotaku
The executive appeared to show exasperation at feedback following its E3 press conference, noting that people were not satisfied with reveals of Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land.
"One of the things that, on one hand, I love and, on the other hand, that troubles tremendously about not only our fanbase but the gaming community at large is that, whenever you show information, the perspective is: 'Thank you, but I want more. Thank you, but give me more'. I mean, it is insatiable," he said in a recent interview.
"For years this community has been asking, 'Where's Pikmin? Where's Pikmin? Where's Pikmin?' We give them Pikmin. And then they say: 'What else?'
"For years this community has said: 'Dammit Reggie, when you launch, you better launch with a Mario game'. So we launch with a Mario game, and they say, 'So, what's more?'
"I have heard people say, 'You know, you've got these fantastic franchises. Beyond what you're doing in Smash Bros, isn't there a way to leverage all these franchises?' So we create Nintendo Land and they say: 'Ho-hum. Give me more'. It's an interesting challenge."
Reggie also opined that the gamer community isn't really the best collective judge of character when it comes to spotting a successful franchise. "What's the fan community reaction [to Nintendogs and Wii Fit]? 'Ho-hum'. Until it sells millions of copies. When we showed Wii Fit on stage… go back and read your blogs, what was the reaction?
"It's a question of, as a gamer, 'Is this for me and something I can get excited about?' And Wii Fit did not get that reaction. And yet, [it sold] 43 million copies around the world. It's a phenomenon. And so I would argue that the gaming community is unable to differentiate between a phenomenon and something that is 'ho-hum'."
Source: Kotaku
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Comments
DrkStr 25 Jun 2012 12:39
1/5
The gaming community is focussed on games, Reggie, not on Wii Fit, Wii Music or Nintendo Land. Just like they're not interested in Home.
That's your casual market, not your gamer market.
That's your casual market, not your gamer market.
Skywardandy 25 Jun 2012 15:21
2/5
@DrkStr God, sadly I have to agree with you, what Reggie said was a little silly. Even though is true that you can't satisfy this community, you are not going to calm them just offering games that are too focused on the casual side. Don't get me wrong I like Nintendo but they should see that the money they spend in the casual market should be used more on the hardcore games and old nintendo franchises. And before someone tells me that oh their profit will be tremendous by keeping the focus on the casual games, that's wrong cause most of these casual "gamers" are playing with their ipads and androids. I'm not saying to erase the casual market from the industry just to focus more with the hardcore side.
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Skywardandy 25 Jun 2012 15:24
3/5
I just wanna clarify that when I talk about casual games are the ones you mentioned, not Pikmin or even Mario, those are good. Though those games of Mario in 2D perspective aren't that great compared to the full 3D ones like mario 3DS and mario galaxy
Buck Russell 25 Jun 2012 18:14
4/5
His remarks ring true. Since this generation, the gaming market has become supersaturated. New games are constantly announced and there's massive hype for over a year leading up to its release. Everyone regards it as "must have" game. It comes out and in a relatively short period of time, it’s pretty much forgotten. And early some features that people praise later become things they scrutinize. Gamers are never content these days. When developers take in player feedback and integrate it into a future game, rather than be glad, gamers just find more to criticize. Back in the PS1 and N64 days, games had more staying power. If you look at gaming forum communities you see that activity dies off much faster than it did a decade ago aside from a select few games for each system. Players now just rushing to beat one game or just give up entirely and move onto the next.
sdfdfs 25 Jun 2012 20:31
5/5
Reggie and gamers? This is what is going on:
Internet gamers see NSMB U as a Wii U launch title and cry like babies because they prefer 3D Mario games and Metroid and F-zero. Some of the others gamers say, "f**k all of you, just give me Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem."
So Reggie says, shut the f**k up you entitled pricks. We just had our first ever annual loss at the company and you guys can't see past your selfish needs. You internet gamers don't account for most of Nintendo's sales. NSMB Wii outsold all the "hardcore" Metroid, Fire Emblem, CoD Games, Zelda Games, and even Galaxy 1 + 2 combined.
The games you entitled pricks want don't f**king sell with numbers like NSMB U, they just don't f**king sell you massive f**king idiots. How is Nintendo supposed to survive in the difficult marketplace if they just cater to you whiny babies all the time? So Nintendo wants to bounce back after a difficult year and launching the Wii U alongside NSMB U is a great f**king idea. But Internet gamers are selfish pricks who don't give a s**t about Reggie, Nintendo or any of the rest of the Nintendo community.
So they cry about how they like 3D Mario better than 2D Mario. Who cares what YOU like - that's the point. If these babies like Nintendo and want to see them succeed (or just want them to keep making games), they would suck it up just like Nintendo is doing and take the bad with the good. Maybe they prefer a 3D Mario, I hear lots of complaints. Maybe they should grow up and look past their own interests and step in someone else's shoes. They don't have to, but if they like Nintendo, want 3D Mario and Metroid, but still don't care for 2D Mario, then maybe they should shut the hell up and take one for the team.
Point is, people complaining about Metroid, 3D Mario, F-Zero, Zelda when those games will not sell faster than NSMB U. Nor will they sell as many copies - yes, even Zelda games don't do great numbers compared to NSMB. Nintendo just had their first annual loss, and they need to sell the Wii U and they need to sell lots of software. NSMB U will do that better than any other game internet gamers can call out.
how much did Metroid Prime 3 + the Metroid Prime Trilogy sell altogether? Huh? What was that? About 2.5 million? Did you just tell me that Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 combined sales are still 10 million less than NSMB Wii? How much did NSMB Wii sell? What?! 26 million? Isn't that, wait, that's... 10x the Wii's Metroid Prime franchise software sales.
Unless the "hardcore" gamers want Nintendo to die off, they should shut the f**k up and let Nintendo get back on its feet before whining about games that don't sell all that well
Internet gamers see NSMB U as a Wii U launch title and cry like babies because they prefer 3D Mario games and Metroid and F-zero. Some of the others gamers say, "f**k all of you, just give me Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem."
So Reggie says, shut the f**k up you entitled pricks. We just had our first ever annual loss at the company and you guys can't see past your selfish needs. You internet gamers don't account for most of Nintendo's sales. NSMB Wii outsold all the "hardcore" Metroid, Fire Emblem, CoD Games, Zelda Games, and even Galaxy 1 + 2 combined.
The games you entitled pricks want don't f**king sell with numbers like NSMB U, they just don't f**king sell you massive f**king idiots. How is Nintendo supposed to survive in the difficult marketplace if they just cater to you whiny babies all the time? So Nintendo wants to bounce back after a difficult year and launching the Wii U alongside NSMB U is a great f**king idea. But Internet gamers are selfish pricks who don't give a s**t about Reggie, Nintendo or any of the rest of the Nintendo community.
So they cry about how they like 3D Mario better than 2D Mario. Who cares what YOU like - that's the point. If these babies like Nintendo and want to see them succeed (or just want them to keep making games), they would suck it up just like Nintendo is doing and take the bad with the good. Maybe they prefer a 3D Mario, I hear lots of complaints. Maybe they should grow up and look past their own interests and step in someone else's shoes. They don't have to, but if they like Nintendo, want 3D Mario and Metroid, but still don't care for 2D Mario, then maybe they should shut the hell up and take one for the team.
Point is, people complaining about Metroid, 3D Mario, F-Zero, Zelda when those games will not sell faster than NSMB U. Nor will they sell as many copies - yes, even Zelda games don't do great numbers compared to NSMB. Nintendo just had their first annual loss, and they need to sell the Wii U and they need to sell lots of software. NSMB U will do that better than any other game internet gamers can call out.
how much did Metroid Prime 3 + the Metroid Prime Trilogy sell altogether? Huh? What was that? About 2.5 million? Did you just tell me that Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 combined sales are still 10 million less than NSMB Wii? How much did NSMB Wii sell? What?! 26 million? Isn't that, wait, that's... 10x the Wii's Metroid Prime franchise software sales.
Unless the "hardcore" gamers want Nintendo to die off, they should shut the f**k up and let Nintendo get back on its feet before whining about games that don't sell all that well