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Long interview with Perrin Kaplan
BTP
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'll just try to give you the main points.
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15301
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15301
Page 1 wrote:BIZ: Ok then, so what is the expected release timeframe for Metroid and Mario?
PK: I wish I could tell you. You will learn soon.
BIZ: But can you confirm if there are any unannounced new IPs in the works right now ?
PK: I can't... but you'll learn more soon! There's also a lot to be said about the channels program we have on the Wii. That's a whole different aspect of introducing new things that are not specifically IP oriented—different, new experiences and things that have never been done before. So that part is cool too.
Page 2 wrote:BIZ: Why is Nintendo planning on releasing a DVD enabled Wii so long after the launch of the console? I don't think many people will care. What's the point?
PK: I think it's just to give them a choice. We've not yet come out with a firm date; we haven't talked about it too much. It's not the top thing on our list.
BIZ: Unless that's part of the plan for a new Wii hardware revision that would incorporate DVD playback as well?
PK: There are always lots of things in the future.
BIZ: Well, Nintendo does love to tinker with hardware, with three different versions of GBA and DS & DS Lite, etc.
PK: Yeah, we do, we do. If you think about the portable market, how many years that's been given legs for... we're talking like almost 17 years of portable gaming with Game Boy.
BIZ: But does the hardware revision model lend itself to the console market also? You relaunched the GBA as the GBA SP, the DS as the DS Lite, so can that be applied to consoles like the Wii?
PK: Sure, absolutely. You'll see the ways in which we do that.
BIZ: Let's talk about Nintendo's online plans. Obviously you have some cool stuff with the Weather Channel, News Channel, Opera browser, etc., but in terms of online gameplay Nintendo continues to lag behind. There are still no games to play online on the Wii, everyone hates those friend codes... how will Nintendo's online plans evolve?
PK: Some of that friend code stuff is really built for the mass consumer, not just the gaming world. The Wii has tons of different offerings and a lot of it was brand new. The remote, brand new. The way in which it interfaces with the screen, brand new. The channel concept, brand new. And I think if we launched it and plunked it down and said to the absolutely uninitiated, "Here's 18 things it can do," I can guarantee you it would stay in the box. It's just too intimidating. So we really strategically wanted to roll out having nearly a year talking about the remote and getting people ready, why it's unique, because it is the Einstein of the system.
And then talking about the different things the box can do and then entering with the Virtual Console piece of it and the Wii Shop channel, introducing the channels one a time—the Mii channel has taken off and people really love that. Then ultimately we did weather, news and there's a lot more to come, but we're kind of rolling it out in a fashion that is consumable for people who are not highly experienced—and also giving you guys a chance to really explore it. And online stuff has come in the Pokemon game that has launched in Japan, and it definitely will come here and I think people will be very pleased with it. But I also think we've seen other companies launch with the entire menu of stuff, and I don't think all of it gets utilized at the start.
Page 3 wrote:BIZ: Can you name a few things about Sony and Microsoft that they may have done a better job at than Nintendo and a few things where perhaps they could improve and learn from Nintendo?
PK: You're asking me?
BIZ: Yes...
PK: God, I'm so not interested in comparisons. I hate to let you down, but every company has its strong features. I know what we've spent time doing in terms of analyzing how to make the industry grow and how to make consumers really have a good time, and our energies have been so focused there. But I have ultimate respect for some of the people at both of the other companies that it kind of defeats the point. I know you love to see us in a bull ring...
BIZ: I'm not necessarily asking you to bash them, but just looking at it as fair as you possibly can...
PK: I think Sony showed the world with PS2 that it was possible for millions and millions of homes to own a [video game] system; they did it. I think for Microsoft, Xbox Live is very strong; they've done very well with it. And I think the Wii is a whole different ball game and we're having a blast.
Page 4 wrote:BIZ: With the DS doing as well as it is, is the Game Boy line forgotten, or is a true GBA successor in the works, and if so when will we hear about it?
PK: It's interesting... I saw a girl this morning playing Game Boy Advance, which is such a great product, so no, we have not gotten rid of Game Boy. But our focus is really on driving the DS business, making sure that's in as many homes as possible, especially with the unique and innovative software we've been offering like the Brain games and whatnot. So, none of the valued names that Nintendo owns disappear; we just are making sure we don't flood the marketplace with too many different options. I think we at one point did that, so we're driving DS right this minute but we'll see what the future holds.
BIZ: So with the Wii out now and doing well, should we consider the GameCube to be on its death bed? Third party support is at a trickle it would seem, and Nintendo doesn't have anything planned for it in 2007, does it?
PK: You know, just like the PS2 sold really well this past holiday, GameCube is a great starter system—price, ease, games, cost of games. Every one of the consoles has had its cycle and every single one of them has become a great starter system at the last leg of its cycle, and that's where GameCube's at.
BIZ: Ok, but the Wii is arguably a good starter system and it's backwards compatible with GameCube...
PK: True. Are we producing any more GameCubes? No. But do we have the inventory there for people to still purchase? Yes.
BIZ: But do you have the software support?
PK: We have so many games. You're a core gamer; you wouldn't buy a GameCube. It's not aimed at you anymore. So for the new people as a starter system, how many games are there for them to pick from? Plenty. ... I mean, I wasn't the first to buy an iPod; by the time I bought it, it came to a price where I wanted it to be and a look the way I wanted it to look. So we're not selling GameCube to the people who are hardcore players and want all the gadgetry; we're going after the people who never really bought a system before, or finally it's at a price that they can afford for their family.
BIZ: My point is that from a first-party perspective, just like Microsoft doesn't put out new original Xbox games, Nintendo is no longer supporting GameCube. Can you confirm that?
PK: Right, that's correct. But it's still a great starter system because of all the great games that were made that are still available. That's the normal cycle for all products.
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection & DS High Scores Thread
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
My Friend Codes!
More Friend Codes!
Mario Kart Wii: 3136-6982-0286 Tetris Party: 2364 1569 4310
Guitar Hero: Metallica: 1032 7229 7191
TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM: 1935-2070-9123
Nintendo DS:
Worms: Open Warfare 2: 1418-7870-1606 Space Bust-a-Move: 017398 403043
Scribblenauts: 1290-7509-5558
More Friend Codes!
Mario Kart Wii: 3136-6982-0286 Tetris Party: 2364 1569 4310
Guitar Hero: Metallica: 1032 7229 7191
TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM: 1935-2070-9123
Nintendo DS:
Worms: Open Warfare 2: 1418-7870-1606 Space Bust-a-Move: 017398 403043
Scribblenauts: 1290-7509-5558
BTP on
0
Posts
ZOMG, WiiHD confirmed!
It'll just look HD because it'll be neon-coloured.
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
More Friend Codes!
Mario Kart Wii: 3136-6982-0286 Tetris Party: 2364 1569 4310
Guitar Hero: Metallica: 1032 7229 7191
TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM: 1935-2070-9123
Nintendo DS:
Worms: Open Warfare 2: 1418-7870-1606 Space Bust-a-Move: 017398 403043
Scribblenauts: 1290-7509-5558
I know there is absolutely no demand for it but it would be the kind of thing that would be easy to do.
Also, did anyone see the 1up show where they interview here, and some kids or something heckle her form a balcony above (its inside a mall or convention centre) and she tells them to fuck off.
I mean, Nintendo employees cant swear. Or have sex.
She completely dances around the online games question, and the only new real new thing is that they definitely seem to be planning major hardware revisions at some point, which screws me as an early adopter.
Whoopee.
The drive slot will have light bloom.
She's a PR robot. I love talking to Ninty folks, but she's very good at her job of answering questions with as little information as possible.
SIX.
Why?
PSN/XBL: dragoniemx
Maybe it's because she learned her lesson by giving out false info.
I'm just wondering how much I'll need to pay to upgrade. If I can carry over all the info(I've spent like 80 dollars on VC at least) then I wouldn't mind paying maybe $50 or something in difference, but I imagine it'll be more than that.
But damn. I want a lime green wii really bad.
I wonder if Nintendo will let us ship ours in and have it refitted. That would be awesome.
Of course, I can't really see what you could do to the Wii to make it's design better, as it's ridiculously compact as it is, but y'know.
Well, they could trim it down to like 2 dvd cases instead of the currently bulky 3 dvd cases.
I have 549 Rock Band Drum and 305 Pro Drum FC's
REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS
Well being that, if your system breaks and it gets replaced, you lose all your VC purchases, I wouldn't get my hopes up.
I'm really quite annoyed at how behind the times Nintendo is on that front, actually. With the 360 and PS3, the purchases are tied to your account... but on the Wii, it's just your system they're linked to. :v:
They might as well just shout questions into a well.
https://medium.com/@alascii
Soon...?
GDC maybe...?
Tell that to Matt Cassamassamina's boner.
The other "mailbag". :winky:
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
More Friend Codes!
Mario Kart Wii: 3136-6982-0286 Tetris Party: 2364 1569 4310
Guitar Hero: Metallica: 1032 7229 7191
TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM: 1935-2070-9123
Nintendo DS:
Worms: Open Warfare 2: 1418-7870-1606 Space Bust-a-Move: 017398 403043
Scribblenauts: 1290-7509-5558
Doesn't anyone remember the N64's rainbow of colors? SNES model 2? Toploading NES? This isn't exactly anything new for nintendo to do. It'll probably have to do with colors, as i'm sure people will want custom Wiimote colors anyways, so having the console match could be rad.
That is the EXACT opposite from what I've heard.
Every person I've talked to said that they sent the broken system to Nintendo, and Nintendo sent them a new one that has their account transfered over to it, so they could re-download purchased games.
Now if we were talking HD-DVD, that would be an interesting hardware update.
Mario Kart DS: 3320 6595 7026 5000
It'd have to be a DVD Channel that you paid for, of course.
Utter bullshit, as it is even said on User Manual that you can get your VC games transferred to your replacement unit if you want. In fact, I know at least few cases where that had already happened.
How?
Sigh. Are you just acting dumb or a troll? You seriously can't think of a reason why this is a very limiting and annoying system to the consumer? Either way I am not gonna dignify your trolling with an answer.
Seriously, I'd like to know how too. If they had another system, user info could be copied onto more than one Wii, thus allowing people to have games they didn't pay for. Besides, Nintendo is the pinnacle of Customer Service, and if they knew that one little thing was wrong with your Wii, they'd let you have a new one with all of your stuff on it.
There's no reason for having to transfer your user info to another Wii.
edit: also, way to try and be the saint by saying you won't explain yourself, asshole
I would happily pay a few euros to cover the licensing fee for DVD playback.
You wouldn't even have to buy a remote. It's a no-brainer, really.
But I've seen Nintendo swing and miss on more no-brainer issues with the Wii, so I'm not holding my breath.
I guess you hate other removable media like cartridges, cd's and other gamediscs as well huh.
Now now, no need for name calling. Let's keep it civilized. Besides, I agree with him that it's hardly neurosurgery or something to understand why someone would have problems with the way VC games are locked to the console for all eternity (yeah unless you SEND THE ENTIRE DAMN THING BACK TO HAVE IT REPLACED, that can't be called consumerfriendly by a long shot). It's an understandable compromise from Nintendo's side, but hardly the most ideal situation for the player.
That does not seem like a good business decision.
Typically, I'm on the side of the consumer, and also getting to have free reign and choice in how I handle and where I take my games. In this instance though, I'm gonna side with the corporation (it just makes it easier that it's Nintendo).
When you record something on your DVR or Tivo or by something "On Demand", are you (average Joe) allowed to take it to other people's houses to watch? Is there an easy method to do this? No. Can you do this with XBLA? No, at least not to my knowledge. It's not that I'm saying we SHOULD be limited with what we have purchased, but it's that Tingle and others with similar opinions are actually surprised and ANGRY with the inevitable and, frankly, quite obvious end result of buying a VC game. They're $5-$10. It's not that big of a deal. You wanna play Super Mario World at your buddy's house this weekend? Have his cheap ass buy it, too. C'mon, if game companies could have their way, they'd push ALL games to us in this way just so we wouldn't take it other places and steal purchases from them with convenience of friendship and location.
Again, I'm not stating I wouldn't WANT to take my VC games to other Wiis, but it's pretty much a moot point.
God, you people like to bitch.
Nothing's forgotten, nothing is ever forgotten