Support NeoGAF

[TreasureHunterG]

They've been on track to do that for the last 15 years so why stop now? Over dramatic I know but this is a culmination of their attitude and business model. Slow, do as little as possible, as cheaply as possible and rely on first party games to sell systems. The can be late to HD, online little by little years after the competition, no account systems, all the little things because they have great games. People put up with the other stuff.

However the market has gone through massive upheaval thus gen. More gamers, iPhone and casual gaming, middle tier pubs dying, studios closing and generally a more polarised market. AAA went bigger, casual went more casual with phones and indies mAde a mark. And basically Nintendo fit in none of them. I know their top tier stuff is amazing but its not the type of thing that was what defined AAA this gen. So Nintendo lost a lot of casuals. They weren't in the AAA market apart from first party, and they had antiquated systems that weren't indie friendly.

Wii U I think is there attempt to get back the AAA and indie whilst trying to keep the unique casual stuff like Wii Fit owners. Indies they seem to be doing OK although output is too low. AAA is looking like a struggle as third parties delay games or ignore it. Its just current level hardware so not exciting enough to feel mect-gen and get the hype pumping. We've also yet to see unique casual stuff and I dunno if that crowd is just sick of peripheral gaming anyway.

They're stuck in a sort of gaming limbo. As we approach Orbis and Durango launches that will be the real indicator of software support.

Pretty much.

Iwata is too short-sighted, too Japanese-centric, completely out of touch with the western market and his management is too conservative for Nintendo's own good.

Man, I'm so confused by the posts that said nothing would change/things would get worse without Iwata while ignoring the fact Iwata has drove Nintendo into the red.

Jesus christ.

Although I must admit, Iwata has to be the luckiest CEO in the world if all his short comings can be brushed off because of a couple of actions he did 6 years ago.

It's like if a Military General conducted a war mission costing tens of thousands of lives but no one wants him replaced because of a battle he won 10 years ago. Hey, that reminds me of someone familiar...

Great post. People really don't understand just how 1-time-only the 3DS's price cut was. It was a desperate move that Nintendo cannot repeat again without permanently damaging their reputation and business model. There's a reason why Sony hasn't attempted the same thing with the Vita.

As for Iwata, he may not be as rigid as Yamauchi was, but he's still very conservative and resistant to change, which is not a good thing in today's market. Listening to his speeches about the state of the industry, the ones that people on GAF praise him endlessly for, are basically him shouting "Damnit Industry, stop changing!" He comes from a very traditional, very Japanese background and either can't or won't understand how the market outside of Japan in changing. In Japan it's easy; online isn't a big deal, and the switch from consoles to handhelds was something that he could understand and deal with. But in the West... online accounts, multimedia functionality, "dudebro" games, making deals to get games, all the stuff that's important to the non-Japanese market is stuff that he's choosing to ignore and that's what's gotten Nintendo into the position it's in. If Iwata can't wrap his head around what foreign markets want in the next year, then he deserves to be replaced, hopefully by someone younger with a more global outlook.

In regards to the 3DS, let's see...

-He made the call the jack up the price, leading to the horrible situation the hardware faced at launch.

-He made the call to market it like the DS, leading to the horrible situation 3DS faced at launch (and to this day really) where the public didn't really know that what they were looking at was brand new, "must have" hardware.

-He made the call to not have any "must have" titles available at launch, leading to the horrible situation 3DS faced at launch with people seeing no games worth buying a $250 handheld for.


And, to fix the mistakes that HE made, he had to...

-Publicly apologize (the first of many times this would happen, as we now know)

-Accept a paycut

-Slash the price of the hardware by more than 30% within the first 6 months of its life

-Offer an "ambassador program" to keep early adopters happy


It seems to me people aren't really grasping how much of a big a fucking deal everything Iwata had to sacrifice to save the 3DS was. These weren't just logical "steps" taken to promote the hardware; it was a fucking hail mary. A hail mary that had repercussions. I mean, just look at the NPD thread, and how many people aren't buying Wii U because they're now sure a price cut is imminent, and are "waiting for the ambassador program." It contributed to a mindset that going in on Nintendo hardware early just isn't fiscally smart. So I don't think it's smart to look at the situation with Wii U and think "Oh, Iwata will just do what he did with the 3DS and everything will be fine - GET OFF HIS BACK!" They had to make some pretty reckless moves to save the 3DS and you better believe the BoD won't be happy if they have to repeat the tactic just to save another hardware launch that Iwata fucked up in such an obvious way. If you don't think he was under threat of the chopping block the first time around, you're kidding if you think he's not now.

And I can't say he doesn't deserve it. The Wii U launch was fucked, and in many obvious ways that people were calling for months - even years - before the launch. Iwata chose to sit on his ass, not pay attention to the industry, not pay attention to the competition, not foster stronger relationships with western developers, not use Nintendo's hand-over-fist profits to expand, and not evolve, period. And now, because of him, Nintendo's in a position where they are once again years behind the rest of the industry, only this gen is the worst possible time for that because now the industry itself is changing. Nintendo's not even prepared for Sony and Microsoft's moves. What the hell are they gonna do when Apple and Google makes another play for the living room?

If he goes? As we say in PopGAF: Ch...BYE

This idea that Iwata descended from the heavens to be one of the greatest business of the last 20 years is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen. There is no proof that whoever replaced Iwata would be terrible for gamers or Nintendo.

So... there're reasonable Nintendo fans after all. There's still hope.

 

[Beelzebubs]

It really is a very American and European thing to think that if something messes up, the person should resign. It's a very surrenderish attitude.

It won't solve anything. It'll cause even more corporate issues in the long run and will screw Nintendo up even more.

Pretty sure Seppuku is a Japanese thing

 

[Hero of Legend]

I think Iwata should form his own Nintendo subsidiary, give it its own name, and design his own games, he was the President of HAL prior, so why not run your own formed dev? I most certainly believe that he should stay with Nintendo, as much as his choices in things have been questionable, he is still Nintendo, he's just no longer suited for being the leader.

But who would be his successor? Would Sakurai work? Miyamoto is too old (older than Iwata isn't he?) Yamauchi is obviously not coming back.

Is there anyone in or out of Nintendo who would be the best person Nintendo could ever hope to run the company?

 

[Harlock]

Disney has no hardware and makes a lot of money.

 

[giant_frying_pan]

And, to fix the mistakes that HE made, he had to...

-Publicly apologize (the first of many times this would happen, as we now know)

-Accept a paycut

-Slash the price of the hardware by more than 30% within the first 6 months of its life

-Offer an "ambassador program"

And those corrective actions have steered the 3DS towards a solid footing in 2012 and almost guaranteed resounding success in 2013 and beyond (albeit not quite at the level of NDS, but then, what could?)

Let me ask you (and any others with a similar stance) a few questions.

1.) Do you personally *want* Iwata to resign from a personal preference standpoint?
2.) Do you THINK he should resign from an objective analytical view?
3.) Who would realistically do a better job, in this market, with the resources available in Iwata's role?

I personally believe he is still the best person to lead NCL forward. No company leader can be perfect 100% of the time, but Iwata has proven that he can rectify mistakes and from a purely financial perspective, has performed better than any of his contemporaries at Sony or Microsoft over his *entire* tenure at Nintendo.

 

[jcm]

I think Iwata should form his own Nintendo subsidiary, give it its own name, and design his own games, he was the President of HAL prior, so why not run your own formed dev?

He could call it Cellius.

 

[Vampirolol]

I think Iwata should form his own Nintendo subsidiary, give it its own name, and design his own games, he was the President of HAL prior, so why not run your own formed dev? I most certainly believe that he should stay with Nintendo, as much as his choices in things have been questionable, he is still Nintendo, he's just no longer suited for being the leader.

But who would be his successor? Would Sakurai work? Miyamoto is too old (older than Iwata isn't he?) Yamauchi is obviously not coming back.

Is there anyone in or out of Nintendo who would be the best person Nintendo could ever hope to run the company?

Sakurai is opened, he loves to share informations, he talks about his ps3, he knows how to make a game appealing, he makes those perfect menus, he made a "Portal" like story in a Nintendo game. He's like the anti-Nintendo but at the same time he knows how to make a Nintendo game.
So, Sakurai as a president is probably impossible, but someone like him could throw a breath of fresh air in the company.

 

[Diablos54]

So, Sakurai as a president is probably impossible, but someone like him could throw a breath of fresh air in the company.

He makes great games, but could he handle the business side of the position?

 

[Vampirolol]

He makes great games, but could he handle the business side of the position?

That's the problem, he's a game designer. Iwata was already a business man.

 

[TreasureHunterG]

Sakurai is opened, he loves to share informations, he talks about his ps3, he knows how to make a game appealing, he makes those perfect menus, he made a "Portal" like story in a Nintendo game. He's like the anti-Nintendo but at the same time he knows how to make a Nintendo game.
So, Sakurai as a president is probably impossible, but someone like him could throw a breath of fresh air in the company.

I agree with you. Sakurai would be a good choice. I don't know if he have any executive experience, but his line of thinking just fit what Nintendo need right now.

 

[InsaneZero]

Sakurai would be a terrible choice if his previous business endeavors are any indication.

 

[TreasureHunterG]

Sakurai would be a terrible choice if his previous business endeavors are any indication.

Like what?

 

[Laguna]

And those corrective actions have steered the 3DS towards a solid footing in 2012 and almost guaranteed resounding success in 2013 and beyond (albeit not quite at the level of NDS, but then, what could?)

Let me ask you (and any others with a similar stance) a few questions.

1.) Do you personally *want* Iwata to resign from a personal preference standpoint?
2.) Do you THINK he should resign from an objective analytical view?
3.) Who would realistically do a better job, in this market, with the resources available in Iwata's role?

I personally believe he is still the best person to lead NCL forward. No company leader can be perfect 100% of the time, but Iwata has proven that he can rectify mistakes and from a purely financial perspective, has performed better than any of his contemporaries at Sony or Microsoft over his *entire* tenure at Nintendo.

I agree. I also often get the impression that especially the users chearing for competing other systems are the loudest in this kind of threads. Iwata is doing a good job and managed to right 3DSs situation within its first year and this was only possible because their 3DS strategy actually was a good one, the only but big mistake was the pricepoint. Also some people seem to easily forget that it was Iwata who proactively tried to built good relations with 3rd parties, while it didn´t work out every time, they at the very least managed to get the most important Japanes 3rd party IPs on board with Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter.

Of course he isn´t always right and some of Nintendos decisions still take their tribute but while Iwata understood that to secure future support for 3DS they needed to make a bold move, their competitor let get the PSV to the state it is today.

 

[Pein]

Like kutaragi he needs to leave, he has fucked over 2 launches in a row. why hasn't he expanded the studio's to help support game releases for nintendo's platforms? So many things he could have done differently. Releasing a system with only new super mario bros would have been a good idea if they didn't release NSMB2 on the 3DS only a few months prior.

Nintendo hasn't been doing jack shit with the wii for a couple years now, why hasn't Iwata been getting sotware prepared for the launch of the new system? I said this before but Smash bros brawl came out 5 years ago why the hell couldn't they make one in that time for launch? Stretched resources too thin because of the 3DS?

Even now the wii u has a tiny line up of games coming out, I can't understand how nintendo didn't try to get 3rd party publishers on board with the system. Why aren't any of the big multiplatform games on the system? Why no DmC, bioshock, tomb raider, GTA5? Almost no support at all.

The only studio they seem to have on board is Platinum, I love platinum and have bought all their games day 1 except madworld but platinum don't exactly light the charts on fire with their games.

 

[braves01]

Even if Iwata resigns as head honcho, I still want him around doing Nintendo Directs and Iwata Asks. Two undeniably positive things he's done.

 

[VGChampion]

And those corrective actions have steered the 3DS towards a solid footing in 2012 and almost guaranteed resounding success in 2013 and beyond (albeit not quite at the level of NDS, but then, what could?)

Let me ask you (and any others with a similar stance) a few questions.

1.) Do you personally *want* Iwata to resign from a personal preference standpoint?
2.) Do you THINK he should resign from an objective analytical view?
3.) Who would realistically do a better job, in this market, with the resources available in Iwata's role?

I personally believe he is still the best person to lead NCL forward. No company leader can be perfect 100% of the time, but Iwata has proven that he can rectify mistakes and from a purely financial perspective, has performed better than any of his contemporaries at Sony or Microsoft over his *entire* tenure at Nintendo.

I really hope Iwata sticks around. I can't help but think if he steps down, Nintendo is going to go after a successful CEO who isn't in the gaming business.

 

[Mpl90]

...Actually Sakurai not as a President, but with a far bigger operative role in the company is something I'd like. As said, he's very open, and he could create a console with EVERYTHING, just like his games :lol

 

[Mr.Squirrel]

Those January numbers are a whole lot more telling than the first two months of each system. Any new hardware in this industry is going to more or less sell out the first shipment, especially during the holiday season.

Even after the 1st 2 months, there were many on here proclaiming the Wii U to be a failure because it only sold 460k consoles while the 360 sold a million plus.

Right now the Wii U has no real games out and the only high priority game (IMO) is MH3U which is a port of a 3 year old game. So of course demand is low, there's really no reason to buy one until some hard dates are given for titles like the Wonderful 101 (which will probably sell like shit), Pikmin 3, Mario Kart, Mario 3D, and the typical Nintendo top sellers.

When the next Sony and MS consoles are released, they'll go through similar fates if they release the system without enough software to system it through the summer droughts. It's not until that platforms blockbuster game is released around year 2 or so that you begin to see a true pattern of how it'll sell.

 

[Gahiggidy]

Why's he putting an ice cube tray down his trousers?

You don't want to know.

 

[Zee-Row]

How can Nintendo not build a powerful game console like MS and Sony? Doesn't Nintendo as a Video Game-only company operate at a higher budget than Sony and Microsoft's video game divisions?

 

[Gahiggidy]

I say fire the board. Keep Iwata.

I don't have evidence, but I suspect others on the board are preventing him from fully implementing his plans and ideas.

 

[jmls1121]

I agree with you. Sakurai would be a good choice. I don't know if he have any executive experience, but his line of thinking just fit what Nintendo need right now.

This post is an example of how mind-bogginly awful this thread is.

Sakurai would be a terrible choice. He can't even run a small development team.

 

[Zoramon089]

I wish Nintendo became a private company. I think being at the whims of a board greatly affects the types of decisions they make

This post is an example of how mind-bogginly awful this thread is.

Sakurai would be a terrible choice. He can't even run a small development team.

This. People in here have no idea what it takes to actually run a business and the thought of a guy who can't even control his own development schedule is absolutely laughable.

 

[Baconsammy]

Fire whoever came up with the stupid "Together Alone" campaign.

 

[InsaneZero]

Like what?

Let's see...

Sakurai's business adventure consists of the entire lifetime of Sora Ltd., which currently has the following achievements:

- Meteos, a property that he created and no longer has any ownership of after the first game's release
- Super Smash Bros Brawl, which had development issues to the point where it had to be outsourced to multiple developers
- Kid Icarus, a game that sunk Project Sora (the subsidiary that was meant to give Sakurai employment again) after its release

The guy has some good insight, but I really doubt that he's cut out for being a businessman if he can't manage the work he does now.

EDIT: Got my timelines mixed up, whoops.

 

[pelican]

Just like Crazy Ken he needs to be axed.

As much as we need to thank Ken for the PS and PS2 he needed to be axed after his transformation into Crazy Ken.

 

[Gahiggidy]

Fire whoever came up with the stupid "Together Alone" campaign.

????

Its actually "Together Wii U", which was never picked up after the E3 direct, as far as I know.

I think "Together Wii U" is pretty good and wish they'd stuck with that for the launch campaign.

 

[shuri]

I think it's time that Shiggy goes away too. he's past his prime and out of touch, and he has way too much power it seems.

 

[Diablos54]

- Kid Icarus, a game that sunk Project Sora after its release

Uh, no. 'Project Sora' was Kid Icarus. Sora Ltd are developing Smash Bros. with Namco.

 

[InsaneZero]

If Iwata does go, I hope he selects someone outside of corporate headquarters as his successor.

 

[PhantomR]

I say fire the board. Keep Iwata.

I don't have evidence, but I suspect others on the board are preventing him from fully implementing his plans and ideas.

BAM, post nails it.

The Board of Directors needs an overhaul.

Also, and it pains me to say this....it's time for Genyo Takeda to gracefully resign. You need someone in charge of the hardware division that not only knows how to create hardware that links up with what EAD wants to do, but you must also create hardware that allows for an enjoyable consumer experience. Although some reports are overblown, is the Wii U's OS right now compatible with an enjoyable consumer experience?


I think with a new Board, bringing in fresh blood into IRD, moving Mr. Miyamoto back into hands-on development, getting new blood into EAD leadership, and expanding non-NCL development studios, Nintendo will be better positioned for the future.

 

[Gahiggidy]

bad post. disavowed and deleted.

 

[pelican]

Pretty much.

Iwata is too short-sighted, too Japanese-centric, completely out of touch with the western market and his management is too conservative for Nintendo's own good.

I think this nails it on the head.

The games market over the last few years has been migrating over to the west. Nintendo seem to be completely oblivious to this. Blinded by the blip of casual gaming during the Wii's peak.

In a sense Iwata and Kaz have a similar task at hand. Changing massive Japanese organisations into progressive modern thinking machines. For Kaz the job of dragging Sony's performance up is similar to reducing the momentum and turning an oil tanker. Very slow, but we are beginning to see signs that he has a plan and the Sony oil tanker is slowly beginning to turn. One thing for sure Sony have the right man, at the right time.

Do Nintendo?

 

[Pein]

GAMERS: WE WANT A KID ICARUS GAME. WHY HAVE YOU IGNORED THIS DESIRABLE FRANCHISE, NINTENDO?

Nintendo: *Puts the team behind Smash Bros. to work on Kid Icaraus 3DS*

GAMERS: YEAH!! CAN"T WAIT TO PLAY IT!

Market: *Kid Icarus releases. Sales are only average.*

GAMERS: WHERE IS THE NEXT SMASH BROS? ITS BEEN FIVE YEARS FOR GOODNESS SAKES. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING NINTENDO?

I didn't want kid icarus, thats why I never bought the thing. This is like telling Bungie we want a oni sequel, fuck halo. Its bad business. Same with sony and sly cooper, sucker punch is off doing something big and they got sanzaru to make the new sly, it would be wasted talent and resources.

 

[Fourth Storm]

GAMERS: WE WANT A KID ICARUS GAME. WHY HAVE YOU IGNORED THIS DESIRABLE FRANCHISE, NINTENDO?

Nintendo: *Puts the team behind Smash Bros. to work on Kid Icaraus 3DS*

GAMERS: YEAH!! CAN"T WAIT TO PLAY IT!

Market: *Kid Icarus releases. Sales are only average.*

GAMERS: WHERE IS THE NEXT SMASH BROS? ITS BEEN FIVE YEARS FOR GOODNESS SAKES. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING NINTENDO?

Honestly, can you fault gamers here? Nintendo simply can't keep up the support for two 3D capable systems. This is why they are moving towards a unified development framework. I just hope they get with it and realize people want to buy software that plays across different hardware. I get the feeling the idea they have is more NSMBU/NSMB2 style sharing of assets.

In other words, we'll be getting slightly different versions of the same game in a short period of time. :\

 

[pelican]

GAMERS: WE WANT A KID ICARUS GAME. WHY HAVE YOU IGNORED THIS DESIRABLE FRANCHISE, NINTENDO?

Nintendo: *Puts the team behind Smash Bros. to work on Kid Icaraus 3DS*

GAMERS: YEAH!! CAN"T WAIT TO PLAY IT!

Market: *Kid Icarus releases. Sales are only average.*

GAMERS: WHERE IS THE NEXT SMASH BROS? ITS BEEN FIVE YEARS FOR GOODNESS SAKES. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING NINTENDO?

Not sure what this is trying to prove. Except that maybe your CAPS LOCK got stuck.

Kid Icarus did probably sell to the gamers who were excited about the franchise. Unfortunately the vast majority don't really care about it. They have moved on.

And the mass market? They won't know Kid Icarus from the plethora of other character based shovel ware games on the 3DS.

 

[mclem]

I think this nails it on the head.

The games market over the last few years has been migrating over to the west. Nintendo seem to be completely oblivious to this. Blinded by the blip of casual gaming during the Wii's peak.

In a sense Iwata and Kaz have a similar task at hand. Changing massive Japanese organisations into progressive modern thinking machines. For Kaz the job of dragging Sony's performance up is similar to reducing the momentum and turning an oil tanker. Very slow, but we are beginning to see signs that he has a plan and the Sony oil tanker is slowly beginning to turn. One thing for sure Sony have the right man, at the right time.

Do Nintendo?

The thing is, though, I kind of like the Japanese-centric approach. Who's going to serve me with what I'd like in this optimal New World Order, or is there simply no place for me any more?

Edit: I do wonder if a lot of the "Nintendo fan zealotry" that's highlighted so frequently is more the railing against an industry that's moving away from what they like. Sony isn't giving me Rhythm Heaven, Microsoft tasks the makers of Elite Beat Agents with making a Singstar clone. The best 2D adventurey platformer out there that's not from Nintendo is either LBP - which, much as I love it, isn't terribly precise - or Rayman, which is undeniably pretty but not teeming with gameplay ideas.

 

[Stumpokapow]

GAMERS: WE WANT A KID ICARUS GAME. WHY HAVE YOU IGNORED THIS DESIRABLE FRANCHISE, NINTENDO?

Nintendo: *Puts the team behind Smash Bros. to work on Kid Icaraus 3DS*

GAMERS: YEAH!! CAN"T WAIT TO PLAY IT!

Market: *Kid Icarus releases. Sales are only average.*

GAMERS: WHERE IS THE NEXT SMASH BROS? ITS BEEN FIVE YEARS FOR GOODNESS SAKES. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING NINTENDO?

Can you think of any alternative, non-hysterical-allcaps interpretations of what happened? Perhaps you could use examples of how "GAMERS" have responded to other actions by other companies to come up with a comparative analysis of how things are the same or different for Nintendo.

 

[Gunstarheroes]

Even if Iwata resigns as head honcho, I still want him around doing Nintendo Directs and Iwata Asks. Two undeniably positive things he's done.

This is basically how i feel.

 

[DashReindeer]

BAM, post nails it.

The Board of Directors needs an overhaul.

Also, and it pains me to say this....it's time for Genyo Takeda to gracefully resign. You need someone in charge of the hardware division that not only knows how to create hardware that links up with what EAD wants to do, but you must also create hardware that allows for an enjoyable consumer experience. Although some reports are overblown, is the Wii U's OS right now compatible with an enjoyable consumer experience?


I think with a new Board, bringing in fresh blood into IRD, moving Mr. Miyamoto back into hands-on development, getting new blood into EAD leadership, and expanding non-NCL development studios, Nintendo will be better positioned for the future.

Do you know much about the people who make up the Board of Directors? I don't usually read the investor Q&As so I'm not as informed about this as I'd like to be.

 

[Gahiggidy]

My point was that bowing to fan-pressure to revive that dusty old franchise was a mistake. We Nintendo fans can be a bit schizophrenic at times. Demanding the huge sellers at regular intervals, such as Smash and Mario Kart, yet nagging for the obscure stuff like F-Zero and Kid Icarus (Heck, people even want a Mach Rider game.) Not the mention the whining we do about no new IP while at the same time stomping our feet every time a classic franchise goes more than 3 years without a new game.

 

[eot]

I didn't want kid icarus, thats why I never bought the thing. This is like telling Bungie we want a oni sequel, fuck halo. Its bad business. Same with sony and sly cooper, sucker punch is off doing something big and they got sanzaru to make the new sly, it would be wasted talent and resources.

You're right, we don't want an Oni sequel we want a Myth sequel

 

[Sandfox]

BAM, post nails it.

The Board of Directors needs an overhaul.

Also, and it pains me to say this....it's time for Genyo Takeda to gracefully resign. You need someone in charge of the hardware division that not only knows how to create hardware that links up with what EAD wants to do, but you must also create hardware that allows for an enjoyable consumer experience. Although some reports are overblown, is the Wii U's OS right now compatible with an enjoyable consumer experience?


I think with a new Board, bringing in fresh blood into IRD, moving Mr. Miyamoto back into hands-on development, getting new blood into EAD leadership, and expanding non-NCL development studios, Nintendo will be better positioned for the future.

I would honestly like to see what features appear in the two patches first before going that far. I also want to see what plans Iwata reveals before making a decision on whether it should step down.

 

[IpKaiFung]

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2012/convocation_notice1206e.pdf

Page 34 for the directors.

Satoru Iwata, Yoshihiro Mori, Shinji Hatano, Genyo Takeda, Shigeru Miyamoto, Masaharu Matsumoto, Eiichi Suzuki, Tatsumi Kimishima and Kaoru Takemura

Intrestingly Yamauchi is still the majority share holder.

 

[Gahiggidy]

Can you think of any alternative, non-hysterical-allcaps interpretations of what happened? Perhaps you could use examples of how "GAMERS" have responded to other actions by other companies to come up with a comparative analysis of how things are the same or different for Nintendo.

I'm sorry. I meant that to read as specific to people like me, Nintendo fans.

 

[royalan]

And those corrective actions have steered the 3DS towards a solid footing in 2012 and almost guaranteed resounding success in 2013 and beyond (albeit not quite at the level of NDS, but then, what could?)

Let me ask you (and any others with a similar stance) a few questions.

1.) Do you personally *want* Iwata to resign from a personal preference standpoint?
2.) Do you THINK he should resign from an objective analytical view?
3.) Who would realistically do a better job, in this market, with the resources available in Iwata's role?

I personally believe he is still the best person to lead NCL forward. No company leader can be perfect 100% of the time, but Iwata has proven that he can rectify mistakes and from a purely financial perspective, has performed better than any of his contemporaries at Sony or Microsoft over his *entire* tenure at Nintendo.

Dude, you can't just quote that part of my post and leave out the part where I explain why this was a big fucking deal that they can't repeat every time they fuck up a hardware launch. "Panic Mode" Nintendo is really just a nice way of saying "Oops! We Fucked Up" Nintendo. You can only give Iwata so much credit for fixing the 3DS when he was the reason the launch was so broken in the first place. You don't get praise for fixing your own fucking mistakes, especially when you have to bet the house, car, and wife to make it happen.

It's like the one time I accidentally started a fire in the garage as a kid. Sure, I got my sisters out of the house, dialed 911, and did all the responsible things to keep the fire from spreading. But despite all that I still got my ass whopped and grounded for 2 months because, at the end of the day, I STILL SET THE GARAGE ON FIRE.

Iwata has set Nintendo's garage on fire TWICE now.

To answer your questions:

1) yes

2) yes

3) I'm not sure who they should replace him. Preferably someone with a background in Japanese gaming and who also has an understanding of how to navigate the new realities of game industry.

At this point, I think Iwata is the worst person to continue leading Nintendo. He's proven way too many times at this point that he has no idea or plan for leading Nintendo through the rapidly changing realities of the modern game industry. And, man, he's made some KEY fuck ups here (ignoring western development, downplaying hardware, ignoring the importance of online) that are going to be a thorn in Nintendo's side for YEARS, and for which i can see no quick turnaround.

 

[Loaded Man]

I say fire the board. Keep Iwata.

I don't have evidence, but I suspect others on the board are preventing him from fully implementing his plans and ideas.

I completely agree with this. I've found in press interviews that Iwata conveys a lot of thoughtfulness and understanding when discussing Nintendo's third party support issues on their consoles. Is it possible that Nintendo's board (which probably consists of many members of the Yamauchi "old guard") could somehow be the real reason why Nintendo hasn't been able to change with the times? Perhaps they're the ones who also prevented the Nintendo/EA online partnership from taking place?

In any case, I do expect console sales to start picking up next month with the arrival of Lego City, Monster Hunter 3U, and Need For Speed: MW as January didn't have any releases which would make anyone want to buy a Wii U.

 

[Zoramon089]

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2012/convocation_notice1206e.pdf

Page 34 for the directors.

Intrestingly Yamauchi is still the majority share holder.

Of course. He'll have control over Nintendo until it's pried from his cold dying hands

 

[mclem]

Of course. He'll have control over Nintendo until it's pried from his cold dying hands

And now I'm envisioning a The Hudsucker Proxy sort of thing with his will.

 

[Tookay]

GAMERS: WE WANT A KID ICARUS GAME. WHY HAVE YOU IGNORED THIS DESIRABLE FRANCHISE, NINTENDO?

Nintendo: *Puts the team behind Smash Bros. to work on Kid Icaraus 3DS*

GAMERS: YEAH!! CAN"T WAIT TO PLAY IT!

Market: *Kid Icarus releases. Sales are only average.*

GAMERS: WHERE IS THE NEXT SMASH BROS? ITS BEEN FIVE YEARS FOR GOODNESS SAKES. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING NINTENDO?

... the problem with posts like these is that it's conflating two things said by very different groups of people into one, strawman, contradictory whole.

It's a totally lazy argument that's also disingenuous.