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Nintendo Moment Vol. 5

http://cube.ign.com/articles/589/589048p1.html

This week's question: Some analysts view Nintendo as a "sleeping dragon," a company whose financial resources and internal talents are enormous, but also one that has chosen to remain conservative amongst a market of aggressive competitors. Do you agree with that view of the company? Why or why not? And how do you see Nintendo evolving as an industry player through the life cycle of Revolution?

George Harrison, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Nintendo of America: Since the early 1980's, Nintendo was one of only a few dragons in the field. And as you know, our company quickly matured and led the industry into the 1990's and beyond, ensuring it became a permanent form of entertainment. Of course the success and immense market we built began to be eyed by competitors. And as the industry has grown, so has the competition. Who wouldn't want a piece of this market? But you can bet Nintendo will continue to be a very active innovator and we'll keep producing and positioning our products so consumers know what we have they can be excited about.

Is there more we can be doing to be assertive? That would likely be the case for any company that is part of a competitive landscape. We've worked hard this last year to make sure we are strong with our grassroots efforts - giving consumers a chance to touch and feel the products; sponsoring our own music tours; and teaming up with other relevant companies to showcase our products. We'll keep doing this and always want to hear from our consumers and your readers about what they'd like to see Nintendo involved in. Remember that Nintendo is founded with a passion for quality and fun, and we will never settle on being considered second-best at what we do.

Looking to the future and Revolution, it's still too early to discuss specific strategies, but I can tell you that we have learned much from the launch of the Nintendo GameCube. We realize that things such as having a strong software line-up at launch is critical to the success of Revolution. We understand what kinds of technologies and experiences the market is asking for. You are certainly correct that our financial and creative resources are vast, and we intend to fully flex this muscle more than ever in the coming years.
 
I think we can count on a very different launch with the Revolution from the GameCube. Hopefully, a system that looks nicer than the current Cube, for one thing.
 
did we miss moment 4?

Um. Good interview. I'm glad they acknowledged in parts the FUBAR that was the GC. However, no comment about constant stream of software + 3rd party titles. Otherwise, the GC drought trend is still going to be there. Unkiddifying the next console design will help
 
Nintendo needs to have a good launch with the Revolution, and I am happy they acknowledge the terrible launch the Gamecube had. And this quote right here has me totally pumped: "We understand what kinds of technologies and experiences the market is asking for." Missing on the DVD trend that started with the PS2 and followed up with the Xbox hurt them in the long run. Consumers will compare the consoles technical specs and will get the best. So it puts a smile on my face they will follow the market and keep up with the competition.
 
I can picture 1,000 different scenarios in which Nintendo either fails or succeeds once I know what the Revolution is.
 
Bishman said:
And this quote right here has me totally pumped: "We understand what kinds of technologies and experiences the market is asking for." Missing on the DVD trend that started with the PS2 and followed up with the Xbox hurt them in the long run. Consumers will compare the consoles technical specs and will get the best.

i don't know. When nintendo makes a statement like that, i don't nessecarily trust it... they're more likley to present something they think is cool, and then tell you it's what you've been wanting all along even if it isn't.

not that i'm super sceptical about nintendo's chances of doing better next gen. The video game market can take very unexpected turns, and it's pretty much impossible to predict. if nintendo comes out with something new that really is revolutionary, they can change their situation pretty fast.
 
It isn't necessarily the launch that needs the most work, its having a steady stream on compelling games to continue whatever moment you have after launch. It happened with the Nintendo 64 and it happened with the Gamecube. Time will tell if they've learned their lesson.
 
IGN suck at asking questions. Asking Nintendo what they have for breakfast would be more entertaining than this robotic crap.

"So... what'chu guys eat for breakfast?"
"Nintendo Power Cereal"
"Isn't that stuff over ten years out of date by now?"
"Yeah, but we're eating with power"
"... Er, cool. Tnanks for your time!"
"But we didn't give you our watch"
"Um"

*Submits onto IGNCube*
 
...I can tell you that we have learned much from the launch of the Nintendo GameCube. We realize that things such as having a strong software line-up at launch is critical to the success of Revolution.

I'm really supposed to believe they learned that when they just launched the DS with a weak line-up and software trickling out slower than any Nintendo product I can remember? I think not. Not to sound negative, which I realize it does, but I'm just tired of the BS they fling around.
 
The launch of Revolution will be interesting software wise. Everyone says that they need to launch with their big guns, and have better 3rd party sapport. I can't see 3rd party companies being happy having to launch against zelda and mario etc.
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
They need to stop thinking that Japan = The world. That is the first order of business

OMG I don't mean to offend you, but I hate reading this comment. There's almost no evidence to show that they care about Japan more than NA, even if this is the case. Hell, the RE4 deal must have been complicated and costly, and that's a game that appeals so much more to Westerners than to the Japanese.
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
They need to stop thinking that Japan = The world. That is the first order of business

I don't think that Nintendo does that. They know that the US really helped to put them where they were in the 80s. I think they need to just lighten up on the license fees.
 
Jesus, who cares anymore? If it wasn't for Capcom it wouldn't be worth thinking about the Cube anymore. Since I doubt they'll be making any exclusive games for them next gen I don't care much about the revolution. Only in the hope that they get their act together. Then there won't be all this lame ass speculation. It exists to this extent because their games are not more interesting.
 
Mihail said:
OMG I don't mean to offend you, but I hate reading this comment. There's almost no evidence to show that they care about Japan more than NA, even if this is the case. Hell, the RE4 deal must have been complicated and costly, and that's a game that appeals so much more to Westerners than to the Japanese.

It's not that they treat Japan better than NA, but that they treat them both essentially the same. Same overall strategy, same marketing ploys, same demographics assumptions, etc. Not surprising since NCL and NOA are literally the same company; NOA has very little independence, so the American operations are largely steered from Japan (though certainly people in Redmond manage the details of the American operations).
 
DHGamer said:
I'm really supposed to believe they learned that when they just launched the DS with a weak line-up and software trickling out slower than any Nintendo product I can remember? I think not. Not to sound negative, which I realize it does, but I'm just tired of the BS they fling around.

Sadly, I think you are justified in making this comment and in worrying about whether Nintendo has really learned anything. Sometimes it seems that they screw up as much as they make better with each new cycle. DS certainly had great third-party support at launch (well, the games weren't great, but the support was), but the first-party support was abysmal and the development cycles for all software were too short, which caused the low-quality games and the dead release period immediately after launch.

I personally think hardware launches are overrated...look at a system like PSone or even Game Boy. They were well known at launch and sold systems, but the world wasn't exploding with enthusiasm for them until years later. Compelling software drives hardware sales, and that software has to be consistent throughout the system's life, which is one lesson Nintendo clearly has not learned despite being burned on it for nearly a decade.
 
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