Interviews// Nintendo's Satoru Iwata: Exclusive Interview
Satoru Iwata interview - Page 2
And then, according to Iwata-san things evolved. “As I mentioned, DS has gained huge momentum in Japan and the US and now third-party licensees are far more willing to support our DS. But of course, since this is an unprecedented gaming machine, I know that many game designers are struggling to make something new. But even though it’s challenging, the designers themselves are enjoying the challenge. Of this I am pretty much sure.”
As you may be aware, Nintendo recently pledged an increased spend on what was an upped level of unspecified research and development. Many possibilities, some outrageous, some pedestrian, were bandied about at the time. SPOnG asks the question. “We have increased our R&D expenditure because we have funded development of the DS and the new Revolution console. This combined with significant software development for both platforms saw our expenditure increase dramatically. I am happy to admit this.
So the Revolution. Unarguably the hot topic for discussion, debate and blind guesswork amongst industry-watchers right now. Many believe that it will be little more than a computer, in a box, which is displayed on a TV screen and will be connected to the Internet. The games will be controlled using traditional controllers and ‘other things’ with the Donkey Konga Bongo Drumset offering the closest glimpse to date. Can this really be the case. “Well, [laughs] if there was no way our competitors would find out, I’d be happy to reveal to you the full details of what the Revolution actually is. But this is not the case right now so I have to refrain from divulging specifics. My apologies. However, I will tell you that the Nintendo DS is the key indication for what Nintendo really wants to do with the Revolution. We really want to come up with a great new idea which will be accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of age or gender. That trick has to be there for the Revolution.”
With Xbox 2 set to launch this year, in time for Christmas in the US and Europe, things have changed. This combined with the seemingly endless delays in PlayStation 3's emergence has essentially flipped wider home machine launch expectations on their heads. Will Nintendo take advantage of Sony’s hardware and chipset development delays and launch before the third iteration of PlayStation? “Sony hasn’t officially announced the launch timing of the PS3 so it would be inappropriate of me to comment on that specifically,” says the Nintendo president with something of a sly smile. “And of course, I cannot comment on when we’ll begin selling the Revolution. But I believe that our target audience is totally different than that Sony is aiming at with the PlayStation 3. And therefore slight differences in launch timings will not be very important. For example, if we were to launch a month sooner or a month later, I really don’t think it will matter a great deal. “Words alarmingly reminiscent of those spoken of the ‘GameCube difference’ not so long ago… Iwata-san continues, “But of course, in the US and in Europe there are key sales times, especially around the winter holidays. So to gain the most momentum for the Revolution launch we have to have the timing correct and this is far more important to us than concentrating on a release timeline governed by the actions of a competitor.”
So no worries that with a free run in the market and equipped with the most powerful machine in the Xbox 2, Microsoft will have a chance to finally become an established home console player in Japan? “Well, I think it’s very appropriate for any Japanese games industry person to say that there is zero existence of the Xbox in Japan. And when Japanese developers go to overseas markets and see that the Xbox actually does sell, they are flabbergasted. I can tell you that Microsoft will have to shell out huge amounts of money to see something incredible happen. The judgement will be made by games. That is what will tell. And unfortunately in Japan, the videogame market has declined somewhat and we know that if we simply intensify game content, the way everyone did in the past, we cannot expand the numbers of Japanese gamers. That is simply the case where the Japanese market is concerned. It is for this reason that Nintendo has sought to come up with a different approach to this market. My answer can be seen as an indication as to the future of any of Nintendo’s game platforms.”
The DS came in for criticism for not following the traditional Nintendo design aesthetic. Some have even called it ugly. Given Nintendo’s history of evolving the design of portable hardware, will we see a revised model DS? Again, Iwata-san laughs good heartedly. “Hardware developers at Nintendo are always looking for what comes next and what will be the new direction as soon as they finish the design of any particular piece of hardware. Some of them are actually working on improved functionality of the existing machine, with some working on a rework of the exterior design exactly in the same way they did with the transition from Game Boy Advance to Game Boy Advance SP,” hinting at a possible, dare we say probable reissue in the not too distant future. But there’s more. “Some designers are working on a completely new project, completely different from the existing DS platform,” perhaps the most concrete mention of the new Game Boy development to date. Iwata-san continues, “But, what I can tell you is nothing complete has been decided right now about when or what kind of modifications or new features will be added to existing machines. However, I am the one who is looking forward the most to the time when one of Nintendo’s developers approaches me and says, ‘Look! We have come up with the great idea!’. So once again, I have nothing concrete to share at this time.” Perhaps at E3?
And with a sage nod and grin, the interview ends.
So the Revolution. Unarguably the hot topic for discussion, debate and blind guesswork amongst industry-watchers right now. Many believe that it will be little more than a computer, in a box, which is displayed on a TV screen and will be connected to the Internet. The games will be controlled using traditional controllers and ‘other things’ with the Donkey Konga Bongo Drumset offering the closest glimpse to date. Can this really be the case. “Well, [laughs] if there was no way our competitors would find out, I’d be happy to reveal to you the full details of what the Revolution actually is. But this is not the case right now so I have to refrain from divulging specifics. My apologies. However, I will tell you that the Nintendo DS is the key indication for what Nintendo really wants to do with the Revolution. We really want to come up with a great new idea which will be accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of age or gender. That trick has to be there for the Revolution.”
With Xbox 2 set to launch this year, in time for Christmas in the US and Europe, things have changed. This combined with the seemingly endless delays in PlayStation 3's emergence has essentially flipped wider home machine launch expectations on their heads. Will Nintendo take advantage of Sony’s hardware and chipset development delays and launch before the third iteration of PlayStation? “Sony hasn’t officially announced the launch timing of the PS3 so it would be inappropriate of me to comment on that specifically,” says the Nintendo president with something of a sly smile. “And of course, I cannot comment on when we’ll begin selling the Revolution. But I believe that our target audience is totally different than that Sony is aiming at with the PlayStation 3. And therefore slight differences in launch timings will not be very important. For example, if we were to launch a month sooner or a month later, I really don’t think it will matter a great deal. “Words alarmingly reminiscent of those spoken of the ‘GameCube difference’ not so long ago… Iwata-san continues, “But of course, in the US and in Europe there are key sales times, especially around the winter holidays. So to gain the most momentum for the Revolution launch we have to have the timing correct and this is far more important to us than concentrating on a release timeline governed by the actions of a competitor.”
So no worries that with a free run in the market and equipped with the most powerful machine in the Xbox 2, Microsoft will have a chance to finally become an established home console player in Japan? “Well, I think it’s very appropriate for any Japanese games industry person to say that there is zero existence of the Xbox in Japan. And when Japanese developers go to overseas markets and see that the Xbox actually does sell, they are flabbergasted. I can tell you that Microsoft will have to shell out huge amounts of money to see something incredible happen. The judgement will be made by games. That is what will tell. And unfortunately in Japan, the videogame market has declined somewhat and we know that if we simply intensify game content, the way everyone did in the past, we cannot expand the numbers of Japanese gamers. That is simply the case where the Japanese market is concerned. It is for this reason that Nintendo has sought to come up with a different approach to this market. My answer can be seen as an indication as to the future of any of Nintendo’s game platforms.”
The DS came in for criticism for not following the traditional Nintendo design aesthetic. Some have even called it ugly. Given Nintendo’s history of evolving the design of portable hardware, will we see a revised model DS? Again, Iwata-san laughs good heartedly. “Hardware developers at Nintendo are always looking for what comes next and what will be the new direction as soon as they finish the design of any particular piece of hardware. Some of them are actually working on improved functionality of the existing machine, with some working on a rework of the exterior design exactly in the same way they did with the transition from Game Boy Advance to Game Boy Advance SP,” hinting at a possible, dare we say probable reissue in the not too distant future. But there’s more. “Some designers are working on a completely new project, completely different from the existing DS platform,” perhaps the most concrete mention of the new Game Boy development to date. Iwata-san continues, “But, what I can tell you is nothing complete has been decided right now about when or what kind of modifications or new features will be added to existing machines. However, I am the one who is looking forward the most to the time when one of Nintendo’s developers approaches me and says, ‘Look! We have come up with the great idea!’. So once again, I have nothing concrete to share at this time.” Perhaps at E3?
And with a sage nod and grin, the interview ends.