Nintendo Europe Rallies – Gosen Hits Campaign Trail

Nintendo Europe managing director David Gosen, often harshly criticised for behaving like a something of human press release, has made what are without doubt his most outspoken comments to date. Coincidentally solidifying bold strategic claims emanating from the conference table of company President Satoru Iwata overnight in Japan, Nintendo’s all-regions briefing was further executed.

Speaking to assembled guests at the ELSPA Games Summit in London, Gosen claimed that Microsoft is eager to offload the current Xbox, accusing the firm of forcing the next-generation as part of a “self-fulfilling prophecy” without considering if there is actually any need to, from the viewpoint of the gamer or the industry in general.

Gosen also stated that the first console to hit retail doesn’t guarantee success, citing 3DO as an example. Which raises two very important points. The 3DO is something of an anomalous example. Also, is this the first sign of Nintendo finally backing out of the launch race, a move long rumoured?

Gosen went on to take some long-overdue pops at the games media, pinpointing complacent magazine editors in particular. “For every game magazine editor bored with current products, there are hundreds of thousands of gamers across the world just discovering them - today's gamers are still hungry for today's games," he said. He went on to question predicted high-pricing of future competitors’ hardware. "As hard as it may be for those editors to believe, not everyone outside their circle is prepared to pay a high price for a new console,” accused the European MD.

But Gosen had more justice to administer, focusing his attention on Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto. In an impressive two hit combo, Gosen said, “Grand Theft Auto, ultimately, is a dead end street, and as a businessperson, I don't relish the role of defending our business from charges of gratuitous violence.”

Gosen’s final target was the entire retail sector. He made the strong point that bundling games is not necessarily a good thing and that swamping the consumer with low-end freebie software is strangling high-end releases – bad for the gamer and the industry. “If we give consumers ten games in a bundle, of which eight are sure to disappoint, what have we actually achieved?" he asked. "A disaffected consumer.”

So, the competition, the media and the retail sector all sorted out in a single speech. David Gosen - multi-tasker of the year.