Nintendo prez reiterates growth "mantra" in keynote
by Blake Snow 
{ Nov 9th 2006 at 3:50PM }
"Everyone loves a game, so why isn't everyone playing videogames?" asked Nintendo President Reggie Fils-Aime at the Montreal International Game Summit today. In case you missed it, that question sums up the big N's marketing hopes for their next-gen console, the Wii. In an effort to reclaim fading market share, the company is aiming to satisfy hard-core and casual gamers, re-engage old gamers, and treat the market like any other mass entertainment medium does; one that a popular majority enjoys such as books, movies, and music. That's the pitch.Set that likelihood aside for a moment though. Maybe current industry growth (or lack thereof) is okay. Assuming it isn't, and if Wii bombs or only does moderately well, does that mean the video game industry can't grow? If it can't, are games a less scalable form of entertainment? And if growth can't take place with motion-controls, how can it?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
> @ Nov 9th 2006 3:58PM
Why does Nintendo keep saying that the industry has stalled or is declining. They're liars. IT HASNT!
Decade-on-decade sales and installment is UP for the overall industry. Within any given ten-year span, there will be peaks and valleys corresponding to generational transitions and console midlife. IE, console sales are presently down (in a valley) because the industry as a whole is transitioning to PS3/360/Wii.
In the case of Ninentdo, THEIR marketshare has declined significantly since SNES. But, the industry is just fine and is about to eclipse the movie industry in value.
Mr. Khan @ Nov 9th 2006 4:07PM
I believe that's it exactly
If the Wii Fails, then it is proven that Video Games have become a Niche Industry, and the market has been saturated (the bad thing about this is IF the Wii fails, then all Game Consoles from Now On are going to be on a price scale similar to the PS3)
The plus side is that if it is proven that the Casual Gamer does not exist, then the field of liscenced shovelware will dissappear in a puff of smoke
If the Wii WINS, though, be prepared to see a number of other corporations get involved in the console game (The return of Sega??!!??) Since it will make set a standard of cheaper, more profitable consoles, just like the NES did when Gaming was defined by more expensive consoles like the Amiga
Je2037 @ Nov 9th 2006 4:11PM
@ 1
They must know that...its just a good marketing angle to come from - sounds good and is convincing. Works for what they are trying to do, appeal to untapped audiences and build a 'revolutionary' hype.
spaceboy @ Nov 9th 2006 4:14PM
They are calling it "stalled" and or "declining" because of the lack of innovation in video games. Contrary to popular belief, hi-def graphics do not qualify as innovation. It is simply a hardware upgrade. Just like a PC.
Nintendo is right. The industry is resting on its laurels with the "if it's not broken, don't fix it" philosophy. But if that was the case, we'd all still be using D-Pads and wired controllers.
Consider this: How different is Final Fantasy 7 from Final Fantasy 10? Not very. Prettier visuals, different characters, different story. But when it comes down to it, it's still repetitive button-mashing. Same with Madden. Choose pass route, press button to hike, press X, touchdown! Now look at the Wii version. Choose pass route, flick wrist back, throw motion, touchdown! Much more engaging if you ask me and probably more fun. How many more iterations of Final fantasy or Madden can we have where all you do is press a button? I guess we'll find out..
10 days til the savior arrives! Praise jebus!! err Reggie!!!
ryan @ Nov 9th 2006 5:47PM
nintendo rocks dont listen to those other jokers
ill trooper @ Nov 9th 2006 4:16PM
I know, totally! Nobody's buying the SNES anymore!
NOVA+CHARGED @ Nov 9th 2006 4:18PM
good luck doing that with the wii. nintendo, when the best looking game on the wii will not even look half as good as the worst looking game on the ps3. i know that graphics does not make a game but when you put EXCITE TRUCK next to Motorstorm, the consumer choice is obvious.
Mike @ Nov 9th 2006 4:24PM
So it's only a matter of time before we board game hits Clue, Shoots 'n Ladders, and Connect 4 on the Wii. Just give me Zelda along with Zeldapoly and I'll be a happy camper.
SpottedNigel @ Nov 9th 2006 8:11PM
" i know that graphics does not make a game but when you put EXCITE TRUCK next to Motorstorm, the consumer choice is obvious."
Yeah, especially after each one is played. Go find a PS3 kiosk and play Motorstorm...tell me you "had blast!" and I know you'd be f'ing lying. Excite truck may not be as pretty, but its 1000 times (estimate) more fun.
Mike @ Nov 9th 2006 4:24PM
Nova+Charged you're right. When you put the DS next to the PSP it clear why the PSP is the handheld market leader.
tenchi221 @ Nov 9th 2006 4:26PM
@6
put a Motorstorm demo video next to an ExciteTruck video, i can understand that, but put a person playing Motorstorm next to someone playing ExciteTruck .. i don't see the same turn out
TwilightKnight @ Nov 9th 2006 4:26PM
6.
Until they see the price. Nobody is going to pay 650 something dollars for a racing game.
Nintendo will only consider the Wii a success if it sells over 20 million. Considering that the DS is right now around 28 million in just 2 years this seems very likely. Also considering that the DS and Wii share similar market ideals.
The market has indeed flatlined. When you look at household penetration is still hovers around 30%, depending on if the study takes into account multiple consoles or not. If they don't then they say around 66%. And those numbers are not going up fast enough.
NOVA+CHARGED @ Nov 9th 2006 4:28PM
whether nintendo think so or not people do care about visuals because if they didn't Nvidia and ATI would be out of business by now. and nextgen is about better AI, physics,lighting, special effects, sounds and graphics and new gameplay element. but puting everything toward gameplay will fall flat because developers will be to busy making the next warioware like game to be worrying about a decent story line and the extra goodness.
Aex @ Nov 9th 2006 4:28PM
@spaceboy
"Consider this: How different is Final Fantasy 7 from Final Fantasy 10? Not very. Prettier visuals, different characters, different story. But when it comes down to it, it's still repetitive button-mashing."
Maybe you havn't played Final Fantasy before, so I won't tear you a new one. Seriously, except for FFXII, all Final Fantasys follow the same gameplay with new stories, characters, art, battlesystems and events. They are all good games because of these changes, not because they come up with a new way to click the attack button.
I'm a little concerned with the path Nintendo is taking. It feels like they are trying to shotgun with the wii. Instead of aiming for a market they are trying to scatter pellets all over the place and hope they hit a couple new ones. As well as it works on tests it leaves the answers diluted. Let's hope this won't be the case and they do provide lots great games for the gamer and not just a bunch of ok games for the people that don't play games.
AssemblyLineHuman @ Nov 9th 2006 4:34PM
NOVA+CHARGED: You're missing the point. You're not Nintendo's target audience with the Wii. Most people don't know who ATI and nVidia even are. If the computer they decide to buy has an integrated graphics card, they won't know the difference. The fact that the hardcore are pouring praise on the Wii is simply the after-effect of a long needed innovation.
spaceboy @ Nov 9th 2006 4:34PM
@ Aex
Sorry for the Final Fantasy shot...maybe out of line. In fact, Final Fantasy 7 made me love RPGs.. Actually I don't think Rpgs should change at all. I think Madden illustrates my points a little better.
I've been a gamer since the Nes and i've become bored with games recently. That troubles me. I really hope, better yet, pray that the Wii is awesome. If it isn't , I could be gone.
CTN @ Nov 9th 2006 5:26PM
Small mistake: Reggie isn't the president of Nintendo.
ryan @ Nov 9th 2006 4:39PM
well it looks like there are some gamer's games for the wii. have you seen red steel? busting a cap in your buddies ass and then chopping him down with a katana using the wii-mote is gonna be pretty sweet.
Avinash_Tyagi @ Nov 9th 2006 4:41PM
@ #1:
Actually the growth of the industry has only been proportional to population growth, penetration remains in the 30-40%
Je2037 @ Nov 9th 2006 4:47PM
I love the idea behind the Wii, but they should have stepped up the power to CLEARLY separate it from the gamecube. It wouldnt have to be anywhere near 360 or ps3, but the lack of significant step up in graphics is basically making the controller the difference - which might be enough - depending on how much it affects the gaming...it might feel like a whole new world of gaming, but it might lose its appeal after you get used to it.
Success of the Wii depends on if the controller turns out to be revolutionary step or a novelty - that you wouldn't mind trading for a gamecube controller - in which case - the Wii is just a new gamecube with exclusive games and a fatter price tag.
Designerbradr @ Nov 9th 2006 4:59PM
If you subtract the growth and sales the DS has caused/made over the past two years, you'll see just what Reggie is talking about. The DS has helped out the industry a big heap.
Piddy @ Nov 9th 2006 5:02PM
I believe that if Nintendo succeeds in gaining the attention of the non-gaming masses it will be a good thing for the industry. Video games are the new scapegoat for news outlets simply because most people are not gamers. The most violent games usually get the media attention and thusly all the blame for acts of violence such as school shootings. Most baby-boomers have never touched a game console, so they couldn't possibly know that there are genuinely fun, entertaining and non violent games out there. They simply latch on to sensationalist headlines denouncing games such as GTA and Bully. They see absolutely none of the redeeming qualities of gaming. If the masses start enjoying some of Nintendo's tamer wares they might, just might, begin to see games as simply another form of entertainment (something us gamers already know). Video games are usually not thought of along the same lines as books, movies and music yet each of those media offer a wide range of choices for their consumers, but rarely with the amount of contempt directed at video games. Although I seriously doubt the Wii will be able to accomplish this in a single hardware generation, I do think it is a step in the right direction for video games as a whole.
crono141 @ Nov 9th 2006 5:34PM
He is of NoA.
ChrisBo @ Nov 9th 2006 6:16PM
Hey, >, how you doin'?
The video game business may be booming (hell yeah!), but Nintendo is making a legitimate point. If the video game industry is, as you say, about to eclipse the movie industry, then why *isn't* everyone playing video games? Everyone goes to the movies, but movies are about to be eclipsed by my favorite form of entertainment: video games!
You want to know what was the one thing I wanted when I was growing up? I wanted my parents to be into video games so I wouldn't feel so damn weird. No matter how pretty the graphics, or compelling the storylines, they just never took to them. Tetris was enough for them (admittedly, Tetris is a hell of a good one). Mom made an additional stride with DDR (and, as a member of the school district, she is currently working to get DDR introduced into PE). With the Wii, though, I'm excited at the possibility that the Wii will be what inaugurates consistent playing time with video games for them, not just me.
Did you check out those Wii Experience videos on the Wii site? Entire families are playing together. Look me straight in the Internet eyes and tell me that's a common occurance. I'm hoping those videos are a prediction of the future, where everyone, at any age, will want to spare some time to play video games with their family rather than go to a movie.
Maybe you're right and that scenario will eventually happen as the generation gap closes. Honestly, though, can you see yourself playing Halo, GTA, or Metal Gear Solid with your 2-year-old kid or your elderly grandmother (or both at the same time) at ANY point in the future?
I truly hope the Wii opens those doors, because all the Metal Gears, Halos, Final Fantasies, or GTAs in the world isn't going to get my family into playing together... well, maybe GTA, but it's only been the men so far playing that one together.
C'mon, >! Hope for the future! For everlasting justice!
Varian @ Nov 9th 2006 7:40PM
Video game industry has not been growing. In Japan, it was in pretty bad decline until the arrival of the DS. In America, it is flat when population growth is adjusted. Even worse, household penetration rate is around 33% which is what the NES had.
This problem has been cleverly hidden by many by reporting only the money of sales. Compare this generation to last generation. Consoles and games are costing more. The dollars 'sold' have incrased but not the number of players. In fact, they do not report the number of players as studies show a decrease of interest in video games in America (look at the Piper Jaffrey studies for example).
Another reason why gamers don't see this is because they tend to look at worldwide sales of consoles. The number of Playstation systems sold is not by penetrating more of the potential market in traditional territories but by being the first worldwide console (and the first to 'win' all three major markets). The Playstation never 'grew' gaming.
The growth of the industry has been in multiple console ownership, not in additional number of gamers.
Sorry gamers. You have never been mainstream. You have always been a niche which is why there is so much stigma against gaming.