I'll never be able to say thank you to you guys enough. You've given me some amazing experiences over these years running GoNintendo. Last week I had the chance to be asked to join in on another one of those great experiences.
The guys at GamesIndustry were nice enough to have me participate in their 'Role-Playing' feature. These features take a look at game industry big-wigs and put you into their shoes. This time, the feature was focused on Satoru Iwata. Here's the question I was posed with.
You're Satoru Iwata. Your company's current Wii console has been all but forgotten, you're feeling immense pressure from social and mobile, and there's constant talk about Microsoft and Sony's next-gen consoles. E3 is your opportunity to make a big splash and to make sure that consumers will want a Wii U this holiday, rather than wait a year for a PS4 or new Xbox. What do you do?
If you hit up the link below, you can find out what a number of gaming press members would do if they were in Iwata's seat. You can hear from me, Dan Hsu, Stephen Totilo, Chris Grant and more. Thanks to GamesIndustry for the opportunity, and to you guys for making this possible!
Article here
The guys at GamesIndustry were nice enough to have me participate in their 'Role-Playing' feature. These features take a look at game industry big-wigs and put you into their shoes. This time, the feature was focused on Satoru Iwata. Here's the question I was posed with.
You're Satoru Iwata. Your company's current Wii console has been all but forgotten, you're feeling immense pressure from social and mobile, and there's constant talk about Microsoft and Sony's next-gen consoles. E3 is your opportunity to make a big splash and to make sure that consumers will want a Wii U this holiday, rather than wait a year for a PS4 or new Xbox. What do you do?
If you hit up the link below, you can find out what a number of gaming press members would do if they were in Iwata's seat. You can hear from me, Dan Hsu, Stephen Totilo, Chris Grant and more. Thanks to GamesIndustry for the opportunity, and to you guys for making this possible!
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Legend of Santiago not first.Also OprahftWinfrey not first, or Mirror Reflection. Satoru Iwata does not get the credit he deserves. Compared to the average president or CEO he does a lot more work and gets a lot less money and he never complains. He cuts his own pay when the company does poorly instead of laying off workers. What Iwata really needs to do is take a break and hand the company over to me. If he does so we will:
1. Get Steel Diver 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
2. Get a Kikiwi Kart Racer
3. Every 1st and 3rd party will require to have Kirby in their game.
I think this is a good idea. What about you podcast crew or who ever is reading this?
I would be Iwata, Iwata is da boss
@Steel Diver DAMMIT!
Also, all Iwata needs to do is make Super smash bros Wii U/3D come out soon
^^ You guys take that first comment way too seriously. Haha.
Very cool that you were one of the people they asked RMC. Also, nice picture. It really shows off your beard.
@Steel Diver I think Iwata is better than your average CEO because he was actually a game developer before he became the president of Nintendo. Didn't he work on kirby when it first came out? He used to be "better" than miyamoto in some things (according to an old interview). He's a cool guy, but maybe not as cool as Donkey kong as the president of Nintendo of america
Sweet picture RMC.
The big thing Iwata needs to make sure to do to ensure the Wii U's success is to make absolutely sure everybody knows the Wii U is a completely new console. Aside from showing off games, that's all he has to do.
@Steel Diver Why you little!
And that's why nobody takes game journalism seriously (and never will).
Seriously all those responses are nothing but retarded game industry propaganda said by stupid nerds. Except for RMC which was the only normal... but the rest....hah!
Congrats, RMC! However, the wording of this exercise seems a bit odd.
"Your company's current Wii console has been all but forgotten,"
Certainly, the Wii isn't cranking out the hits like it did in the past, but this statement seems pretty harsh. Perhaps a more factual statement with actual numbers regarding the recent sales of the Wii and Wii games would be a bit more clear.
"you're feeling immense pressure from social and mobile,"
Is this a fact or conjecture?
"and there's constant talk about Microsoft and Sony's next-gen consoles."
Constant talk? From who?
"rather than wait a year for a PS4 or new Xbox."
Have these systems been confirmed for release next year?
Generally speaking, this scenario seems to be based on opinion and rumor. But it is "role-playing" so maybe I'm being overly critical.
this is really awesome for you to be involved in this discussion RMC, keep up the hard work. oh and nice pic lol
If I were in Iwata's shoes then this is how I would want my E3 to be like:
Nintendo has to be aggressive in their E3 presentation. Remember Reggie's introduction to all of us watching E3 2004? maybe this will remind you:
perfect, perfect introduction during a time of doubt and pessimism (not as bad now, but there is still doubt). you go after the audience with a strong punch and win the first 10 minutes. I'm not suggesting talking trash against competition, frankly nintendo doesnt even need to mention sony and microsoft. Hit us with games, big games that is, games that we have no idea and would fit the mainstream E3 audience. The casual audience would find out eventually. whether if its a big name first party like Metroid or a big 3rd party exclusive name (that isnt a spinoff). hit the audience hard, and finally prove to them that you can compete with a quality online system. have the features that build an expansive and involving online community, its more than just having a good selection of online games and online multiplayer, create a connection that gamers can have with others.
give the audience a reason to play your games first and you will have a lot of momentum going into the new generation.
I really hope this is what nintendo does, I doubt nintendo will be like they were in 04, but if they are then watch out
I say get Valve to partner with you, including Steamworks integration. This will give a platform for indie developers to use to get on the Wii U, and Nintendo can just let Valve handle sales and all of that. This instantaneously improves Nintendo's online system, downloadable games, etc. since every indie developer (pretty much) gets on Steam.
Make a 2D Mario at launch, make 2 controllers work, etc.
Yeah I was gonna say it sound a bit like a loaded question. A chance to vent frustrations at Nintendo under the guise of a question posed in the context of "roleplay". All the points brought up only seem to argue worst case scenerio. I get people trying to argue the mobile gaming aspect comparing handhelds but SERIOUSLY!??! Come on now....like social and mobile gaming has ANYTHING to do with console gaming. Cause if it does Sony and Microsoft are in just as much trouble.
@Lyude77 The last part seems pretty likely.
Wow, you made those other guys look foolish
Good answer RMC. Most of the other answers... well, they seemed uninformed at best (maybe the last guy was okay). It's like a bunch of guys read some gaming articles and decided to reiterate them in the article. I wouldn't take their advice.
Really, for Nintendo to lead, they need to... lead. Not follow along with the others. Sure there are features that Nintendo needs to get better at (eg. online), but they also have to pave their own way. Or else, they just become an also ran.
You had a really good answer RMC and I completely agree with you.
Kotaku's Totilo sounded like some wishful poster on some gaming forum, Future Games' Clark is the one actually confusing me now, RMC and Eurogamer's Bramwell were reasonable, Polygon's Clark is somewhat right (though I'd blame most third-parties more), and Dan Hsu needs to get his priorities straight (necessary exclusives, agreed; but number one is getting rid of Miis?!).
That's how I'd sum up the role-play.
@Steel Diver
Agreed about the under-appreciation of Iwata.
@GoNiners
Good thing I wasn't the only one who thought the prompt was overly melodramatic.
It's the typical "let's all hate on Nintendo" prompt.
I'd love to see their Sony and MS ones and how they phrase them.
Of course, something tells me there isn't going to be one for Sony or MS.
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