Nintendo of Americ's president, Reggie Fils-Aime has taken the opportunity presented by Forbes magazine to put the corporate boot into all and sundry. Try these:
On Apple: There's been no data to suggest an encroachment on our business. The iPhone has been out on the marketplace for just a couple of years. In the last two years we've set two records on our DS business, last year selling over 11.2 million units. So there's been no evidence that we've lost any business to that competitor.
On Microsoct Avatar clothing: "And candidly, if you really challenge the competitors who are playing in this space, I think they would be hard-pressed to show any true value from a consumer standpoint."
On HD Wii: "So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console, our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience. Therefore, we're not interested. What we have to push for are groundbreaking new experiences. Technology has to enable it, not to be a means all by itself."
Reggie also takes the time to redefine the concept of 'Free':
"The Netflix application is going through its final testing right now and is on track to launch in the spring. Similarly, it's going to be a fantastic seamless experience as well. That's because the Wii already comes Wi-Fi-enabled, and with great Internet-connection capability. The consumer won't have to pay incrementally: as long as they have a high-speed Internet connection and a Netflix subscription, it's free."
Lots more here.
On Apple: There's been no data to suggest an encroachment on our business. The iPhone has been out on the marketplace for just a couple of years. In the last two years we've set two records on our DS business, last year selling over 11.2 million units. So there's been no evidence that we've lost any business to that competitor.
On Microsoct Avatar clothing: "And candidly, if you really challenge the competitors who are playing in this space, I think they would be hard-pressed to show any true value from a consumer standpoint."
On HD Wii: "So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console, our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience. Therefore, we're not interested. What we have to push for are groundbreaking new experiences. Technology has to enable it, not to be a means all by itself."
Reggie also takes the time to redefine the concept of 'Free':
"The Netflix application is going through its final testing right now and is on track to launch in the spring. Similarly, it's going to be a fantastic seamless experience as well. That's because the Wii already comes Wi-Fi-enabled, and with great Internet-connection capability. The consumer won't have to pay incrementally: as long as they have a high-speed Internet connection and a Netflix subscription, it's free."
Lots more here.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
Dreadknux 11 Mar 2010 10:28
1/4
I don't know. I sort of agree with Reggie here, but I can't help but feeling like Nintendo is doing the whole 'we're bigger than anyone else' arrogance they played back in the SNES days. They kept that up, even after its crown was taken by Sony.
I wonder if Reggie's right to not be worried at all, or if Nintendo should at least prepare for any situation that may arise in the future, what with HD motion control coming in the Xbox and PS3 and all.
I wonder if Reggie's right to not be worried at all, or if Nintendo should at least prepare for any situation that may arise in the future, what with HD motion control coming in the Xbox and PS3 and all.
Gazbin 13 Mar 2010 13:28
2/4
Apple not a threat? Famous last words - right now they are poo-ing their pants. DS is so low tech that it can be emulated on a pocket calculator... so the kind of games that play on DS are easy to make and will be sold on an Apple device for $1.99. Even Square Enix is jumping onboard the iPhone bandwagon... What does that do to Nintendo's business model?
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Pirly 23 Mar 2010 00:16
3/4
$1.99? You are sadly mistaken. Look at any of the major consol publisher making games on the iPhone start at $5-$10. It does come cheap to make a game with professional artist compared to the many garage studios making games on the iPhone
Wi 20 Apr 2010 14:27
4/4
All those sales that DS/Wii could have had, and all those PSP sales, and all those PS3 sales, and xbox, and PS2. What a wonderful success. Did I forget all those Bluray player sales, but what about the DVD player sales. great experience, what is being offered? Every sale that was made because it was something Nintendo was not but should/could have been, is that really a success? SHD, 3DTV etc is coming, will Nintendo be caught out again? I had some body talk down about their $2 DVD's lately, because they were only standard definition. Eventually people will get big HD sets and complain that the blocky graphics they see are not Natal, then not PS3 and eventually that they are the company they come from unless that company upgrades to HD.
HD is not a new experience, but only an upgrade to an old experience, to a more acceptable old more standard experience (HD) 3D and SHD is the new experience. How many times has this happen, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HD. The truth is while future sales seem slow on paper, with increasing technology and eager adoption, time and again these things have taken off and over much faster than some expected with a much greater eventual sales influence then expected, but pretty much how others warned them. DVD sold some PS2's at the start, but PS2 opened the DVD market up more rap[idly, that then sold a lot more PS2s. Now there is a player coming promising SHD download that can fit on DVD.
HD is not a new experience, but only an upgrade to an old experience, to a more acceptable old more standard experience (HD) 3D and SHD is the new experience. How many times has this happen, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HD. The truth is while future sales seem slow on paper, with increasing technology and eager adoption, time and again these things have taken off and over much faster than some expected with a much greater eventual sales influence then expected, but pretty much how others warned them. DVD sold some PS2's at the start, but PS2 opened the DVD market up more rap[idly, that then sold a lot more PS2s. Now there is a player coming promising SHD download that can fit on DVD.