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[Trike]

He's not all that though. He kept saying online wasn't important, while online just took off around the world. He seems to be blowing off cloud gaming as if it's irrelevant. He stayed with terribly outdated tech resulting in a complete disinterest by most big publishers for an entire generation. he launched a handheld at such a price with so little to offer that they had their first even yearly loss and he had to take a paycut and cut the price of the system within the first 6 months. He's just launched a home console that Nintendo themselves dont know how to sell, and third parties yet again aren't currently interested.

He hit lightning in a bottle with Wii after a big gamble, and didn't have faith in the DS given the fact it as a 'third pillar' and the GameBoy still going to be their main handheld.

He took some punts, and they paid off due to timing. You can call that genius but I call it lucky. Wii U is unfortunately looking to be pretty go him so far.

I wouldn't go as far as calling him a genius, but he is a smart man. While the DS certainly wasn't online focused, it would have been weird for Nintendo to jump to an online focus in 2004. With the Wii, Nintendo did have an online focus. They wanted the consoles to be connect to the internet 24/7, a philosophy that was carried on and expanded with the 3DS and Wii U. It just didn't have the accounts that people wanted. I do not remember when that quote came from, but wasn't it around 2004/2005? I'll agree that it was a dumb thing to say though.

I don't think he just blew off new tech like it was nothing. It sounded like it was considered, but did not think it fit Nintendo. This is the same company that denied the Kinect tech too.

Despite the admittedly embarrassing tech, the Wii ended up setting records for sales. Publishers mostly ignored the Wii despite the large install base. You could say it was because of the tech, but that didn't stop the Gamecube from being largely ignored. There are a number of factors to it. Tech being one of them, another being that Nintendo had largely been shunned at that point.

He also did not need to take a paycut, if I recall correctly he took a paycut to show how serious he was taking the 3DS' bad launch. Other than that, yeah, the price of the 3DS was quite arrogant. But you don't see any other company president taking the blame personally for anything, really. The Wii U may not have had a great launch, but it is a bit silly to say that 3rd parties aren't interested in the Wii U when the console has only been out for only three months or so.

As far as the DS and the third pillar comment went, Nintendo valued the Game____ and did not want to sully it again after the failure of the Gamecube. The DS was a pretty big gamble after all. But pretty much since the third pillar comment everyone knew it was just a failsafe in case the DS failed. But it did end up doing insanely well. If it didn't, we probably would have ended up with a new powerful Gameboy, and who knows if they would have taken the Wii risk then.

Call it luck if you want, but a lot of planning clearly went into the Wii. I think they knew it would be a success, but did not realize how large of a success it would be. Don't believe all of it can be attributed to Iwata though, considering he is not the only one at Nintendo. I also don't think all of the recent failures can be attributed to solely him as well.

Amem, brother. There's still sanity in this world, after all.

Gee, what a surprise. If someone disagrees with your biased opinion, they must be insane.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Amem, brother. There's still sanity in this world, after all.

Calling the Wii a lucky hit is sanity now?

 

[Ollie Pooch]

I wouldn't go as far as calling him a genius, but he is a smart man. While the DS certainly wasn't online focused, it would have been weird for Nintendo to jump to an online focus in 2004. With the Wii, Nintendo did have an online focus. They wanted the consoles to be connect to the internet 24/7, a philosophy that was carried on and expanded with the 3DS and Wii U. It just didn't have the accounts that people wanted. I do not remember when that quote came from, but wasn't it around 2004/2005? I'll agree that it was a dumb thing to say though.

Was WiiConnect ever used? I remember them talking it up before the launch but can't recall anything that actually used it in a meaningful way.

 

[farnham]

Was WiiConnect ever used? I remember them talking it up before the launch but can't recall anything that actually used it in a meaningful way.

It kinda became streetpass/spotpass which is an awesome feature

 

[Ollie Pooch]

It kinda became streetpass/spotpass which is an awesome feature

I'm talking about the Wii. And yeah, pretty cool feature of the 3DS.

 

[slightconfuse]

It would be nice if nintendo offered a modern online service

 

[Trike]

Was WiiConnect ever used? I remember them talking it up before the launch but can't recall anything that actually used it in a meaningful way.

Wii channels used them, like the weather, news, mario kart, and other stuff like that. Animal Crossing used it for sending messages or something. Also whenever the blue light started glowing, it was because you got a new message using wiiconnect24.

As mentioned, they changed the name of it to spotpass for the 3DS and Wii U. For some dumb reason the Wii U doesn't support Wiiconnect 24, so your weather channel and news apps on the Wii emulation are even more useless.

 

[AzaK]

Wii channels used them, like the weather, news, mario kart, and other stuff like that. Animal Crossing used it for sending messages or something. Also whenever the blue light started glowing, it was because you got a new message using wiiconnect24.

As mentioned, they changed the name of it to spotpass for the 3DS and Wii U. For some dumb reason the Wii U doesn't support Wiiconnect 24, so your weather channel and news apps on the Wii emulation are even more useless.

Yeah but no one can really say WC24 was actually a sling point. Nintendo treated it like an afterthought.

 

[FreeMufasa]

Apart from releasing the Wii U a year earlier, and moving Zelda SS to it, it's hard to see what Nintendo could have done differently. They don't have the resources to support 3 consoles all by themselves, which is what they are forced to do since 3rd parties want them dead.

They don't have ulterior motives like Sony and MS, who have never made money in games overall and use it as a trojan horse. Nintendo need to create hardware that they believe makes games fun because that's all they've got.

Ppl really believe this?

:lol

 

[yon61]

With Jan's NPD figures released, I think it's only a matter of time until he's ousted.

 

[DragonSworne]

With Jan's NPD figures released, I think it's only a matter of time until he's ousted.

Hopefully Reggie follows Iwata shortly.

 

[Cheebo]

Hopefully Reggie follows Iwata shortly.

New CEO's tend to put their own team in place. When Iwata is gone (yes it is when, not if) the new CEO will assurdley scrap Iwata's old team of upper management and put in his own new group.

Iwata will not be CEO by this time next year, that is clear to see. My guess he is gone by the end of the summer.

 

[Plinko]

New CEO's tend to put their own team in place. When Iwata is gone (yes it is when, not if) the new CEO will assurdley scrap Iwata's old team of upper management and put in his own new group.

Iwata will not be CEO by this time next year, that is clear to see. My guess he is gone by the end of the summer.

I still think he's not CEO at E3. Would be the perfect time to announce a new strategy.

 

[Cheebo]

I still think he's not CEO at E3. Would be the perfect time to announce a new strategy.

Hmm, they don't do that business sort of internal stuff at E3. I mean I agree it could be before though. It would be kind of depressing watching him up there since by all indications he is a dead man walking right now. When is the next major shareholders meeting? I would say around then.

 

[metalslimer]

I still think he's not CEO at E3. Would be the perfect time to announce a new strategy.

Honestly, once Nintendo announces they haven't shipped any more Wii Us and investors get wind of these kind of sales its have WW (they were able to cover it up with the ok launch in japan and the US) Iwata could be gone at the fiscal end year meeting.

Eh they don't do that business sort of internal stuff at E3. When is the next major shareholders meeting? I would say around then.

April. And sales are only going to plummet worldwide from now until march meaning we could see some near 100k worldwide a month sales.

 

[ffdgh]

Yes after recent numbers, things aren't looking good...

 

[iSnakeTk]

What do you think guys, should I send in my resumee ?


I can probably do a better job than Iwata.

 

[Cheebo]

At this point who will the board pick? An outsider? Or someone within NCL currently?

My feeling is they should go with someone outside of Nintendo.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Take care Iwata-san.

 

[Conor 419]

New CEO's tend to put their own team in place. When Iwata is gone (yes it is when, not if) the new CEO will assurdley scrap Iwata's old team of upper management and put in his own new group.

Iwata will not be CEO by this time next year, that is clear to see. My guess he is gone by the end of the summer.

Panic analysis.

 

[wsippel]

With Jan's NPD figures released, I think it's only a matter of time until he's ousted.

Who's supposed to oust him? The shareholders? Most shareholders don't even have any voting rights. Unless Yamauchi fires him or Iwata actually wants to resign, he'll stay.

 

[BruiserBear]

Panic analysis.

Reality analysis.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

I am certainly interested to see how a new leadership would tackle the issues Wii U has. I mean how different the approach can be with Wii U now? Prolly is just more aggressive 1st party support and price cuts. If the performance is still poor they can just blame it on Iwata and the next home console is the one where possible new approach is seen?

 

[BD1]

I think some of you are jumping the gun, a little bit.

How many major executives were canned during the N64/GameCube eras?

I think Iwata has the next fiscal year. Reggie... who knows.

 

[metalslimer]

Who's supposed to oust him? The shareholders? Most shareholders don't even have any voting rights. Unless Yamauchi fires him or Iwata actually wants to resign, he'll stay.

As cold as Yamauchi is business wise, don't think that isn't a possibility.

How many major executives were canned during the N64/GameCube eras?

Nintendo had their portable line doing gangbusters worldwide then. The 3DS outside of Japan is doing mediocre numbers at this point. Also the Wii U is doing worse than the gamecube right now and about to do worse than the ps3.

 

[Erethian]

Who's supposed to oust him? The shareholders? Most shareholders don't even have any voting rights. Unless Yamauchi fires him or Iwata actually wants to resign, he'll stay.

Yeah.

Wii U is doing really bad at the moment, but this is just getting hyperbolic.

 

[Tobor]

At this point who will the board pick? An outsider? Or someone within NCL currently?

My feeling is they should go with someone outside of Nintendo.

An outsider would be preferable. I have to assume an internal hire would be an Iwata disciple who will just double down on their current nonsensical strategy.

They need to hire someone bold enough to make big changes. Someone who actually understands where the industry is going.

 

[BY2K]

You guys are bloodthirsty.

Can you imagine how hard it would be to:

1. Found someone QUALIFIED to replace Iwata?
2. Have him turn around the Wii U situation in a few months and keep Nintendo on track?

 

[wsippel]

I think some of you are jumping the gun, a little bit.

How many major executives were canned during the N64/GameCube eras?

I think Iwata has the next fiscal year. Reggie... who knows.

Yeah, people certainly are overreacting. If the Wii U sales were reason enough to fire a company president, Kaz Hirai would be long gone.

 

[Nibel]

By this time next year, Iwata will still be CEO of Nintendo

 

[Diddy Kong]

Replacing Iwata right now would do absolutely nothing.

 

[Tobor]

By this time next year, Iwata will still be CEO of Nintendo

If that's true, then Nintendo is screwed. They'll just continue sliding into obscurity and obsolescence.

 

[Cheebo]

Panic analysis.

Nintendo will have it's first two yearly losses in the company's entire history. In a row. Iwata is the only CEO in the companies insanely long history to ever have a annual loss. And he went and did it twice in a row. He is gone.

How many major executives were canned during the N64/GameCube eras?

Nintendo was making a profit in the N64/GCN eras. That isn't the case today.

 

[wsippel]

An outsider would be preferable. I have to assume an internal hire would be an Iwata disciple who will just double down on their current nonsensical strategy.

They need to hire someone bold enough to make big changes. Someone who actually understands where the industry is going.

If anything, I actually think Iwata has a pretty good idea where the industry is heading. Unlike most other guys in the industry and 99% of the "core" gamers.

 

[metalslimer]

Yeah, people certainly are overreacting. If the Wii U sales were reason enough to fire a company president, Kaz Hirai would be long gone.

So what happens when the Wii U falls behind the PS3 because it will certainly happen in the next few months. I don't think people are understand how bad the current worldwide sales are.

If anything, I'm actually pretty sure Iwata has a good idea where the industry is going. Unlike most other guys in the industry and 99% of the "core" gamers.

Yes the Wii U and 3DS launch certainly show Iwata knows exactly what the consumer wants and where the industry is going. Nintendo can't even get out a proper account system in the year 2013. Iwata is completely out of touch with every market outside of Japan, and he no longer has the benefit of the doubt anymore to be hailed as some kind of industry genius.

 

[jett]

Buh-bye Iwata.

So what happens when the Wii U falls behind the PS3 because it will certainly happen in the next few months. I don't think people are understand how bad the current worldwide sales are.

Fall? It's way behind the PS3.

 

[thefro]

Reggie will be gone well before Iwata

As long as Yamauchi is alive Iwata's going to get a long leash.

 

[Cheebo]

If anything, I actually think Iwata has a pretty good idea where the industry is heading. Unlike most other guys in the industry and 99% of the "core" gamers.

Then why is 3DS floundering in America and Europe and WiiU bombing everwhere?

The only thing Nintendo has going for it is 3DS in Japan. That is it.

Iwata is presiding over Nintendo's first years ever having losses. That never even happened in the N64 & GCN eras.

 

[mantidor]

Kids, we have been over this already, is already page 19 and you still haven't understand at all what Iwata meant.

 

[BocoDragon]

Yeah, people certainly are overreacting. If the Wii U sales were reason enough to fire a company president, Kaz Hirai would be long gone.

It's been a little over 10 months since he became Sony president: so no. That's crazy talk. He has not been president long enough to fall on his sword for anything.

 

[fabprems]

Hey people, relax, Iwata is not gonna resign, at least until the end of next fiscal year.
He didn't jump out the 3DS ship and he will not jump out of the Wii U ship either.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

Yeah, people certainly are overreacting. If the Wii U sales were reason enough to fire a company president, Kaz Hirai would be long gone.

Well wasn't Kutaragi forced out because of PS3 and Kaz was able to turn the ship somewhat. And haven't things gotten somewhat better with Kaz at the helm of the whole company. I know they still make losses but I was under the impression they at least are on the right track? If I am wrong someone please inform me, I haven't followed Sony finances that closely :/.

 

[Cheebo]

Kids, we have been over this already, is already page 19 and you still haven't understand at all what Iwata meant.

It doesn't matter what he meant, his job isn't in his hands. The board is going to fire him if he doesn't step down on his own.

 

[farnham]

It's been 1 year and 13 days since he became Sony president: so no. That's crazy talk. He has not been president long enough to fall on his sword for anything.

He was sce president though

Anyways many people were fired or got worse positions due to poor performance in the last 7 years


Kutaragi is gone howard stringer is in a honoris position..

 

[Erethian]

Nintendo will have it's first two yearly losses in the company's entire history. In a row. Iwata is the only CEO in the companies insanely long history to ever have a annual loss. And he went and did it twice in a row. He is gone.

He also oversaw some of their biggest financial successes ever in the DS and Wii. And their recent losses were accentuated by the biggest global financial crisis since the Great Depression and extremely volatile currency fluctuations.

You can't point to his failures while wiping away his successes.

 

[wsippel]

So what happens when the Wii U falls behind the PS3 because it will certainly happen in the next few months. I don't think people are understand how bad the current worldwide sales are.

It doesn't really matter as long as the 3DS is successful. And the Wii U isn't quite dead yet. It's many months too early to write a death certificate. It's as if nobody has learned anything from the 3DS, or the PS3 for that matter.

 

[AOC83]

Yeah, people certainly are overreacting. If the Wii U sales were reason enough to fire a company president, Kaz Hirai would be long gone.

Can´t remember the PS3 ever doing as terrible numbers as the WiiU. Not even at 600€/$.

 

[GDGF]

I have a feeling Iwata will still be President of NCL for years to come.

 

[farnham]

Then why is 3DS floundering in America and Europe and WiiU bombing everwhere?

The only thing Nintendo has going for it is 3DS in Japan. That is it.

Iwata is presiding over Nintendo's first years ever having losses. That never even happened in the N64 & GCN eras.

I think 3ds will do fine this year. Wiiu im not sure.

Iwata made a promise and if he fails to do it he will resign or will get the boot

Can´t remember the PS3 ever doing as terrible numbers as the WiiU. Not even at 600€/$.

Maybe. But they lost a lot more money because of it.

Dont get me wrong i hope iwata will get the boot. His relictance to growth and M&A created this situation in the first place

 

[metalslimer]

He also oversaw some of their biggest financial successes ever in the DS and Wii. And their recent losses were accentuated by the biggest global financial crisis since the Great Depression and extremely volatile currency fluctuations.

You can't point to his failures while wiping away his successes.

In this business world? You most certainly can.

It doesn't really matter as long as the 3DS is successful

Outside of Japan it is quickly losing any momentum Mario Kart and 3D Land once gave it. It had a miserable holiday and continues to be down with a much better lineup. Japan might be enough to give them a profit from the losses the Wii U will bring them.