NOA's Reggie Fils-Aime skirts region issues

by Ross Miller { Nov 30th 2006 at 8:25PM }

There are always two ways to look at every situation, and the best businessmen are the ones who can convince you that their perspective is right. In a string of interviews lately, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has aptly spun the region situations into a pleasant bullet point. Let's look at his argument.

In an interview with MTV's Stephen Totilo, Fils-Aime was questioned about the disparity between the US and Japanese Virtual Console lineup, where the US was receiving around half the titles going to Japan. In his words, some games "may make perfect sense in Japan but we don't think in our marketplace have a lot of potential." Translation: why waste the megabytes on titles that didn't have the popularity?

However, the cost for Nintendo to put a a title on a server is minimal and builds reputation to a brand for supporting its fans. There is no shelf space to fight for, and we know Nintendo are wizards with their emulators. Even if the title only appeals to a niche audience, that's still money for intangible property. Forget Mother 1 and 3, with this talk we're afraid they might skip over uploading cult-favorite Earthbound. Contrary to popular opinion, not everyone will want Goldeneye.

As for the timing of VC releases, Fils-Aime told Totilo in an update that the release of popular titles such as Super Mario World will be "a bit more strategic ... If there's a month where we don't have a fantastic lineup of Nintendo-packaged software, that's where I want to release a great SNES game or a great N64 game to maintain the momentum." We can't fault Fils-Aime for smart business tactics, but we're hoping Nintendo doesn't rely on their library of classics as a crutch during a drought, or overestimate the value of retro titles.

In another interview via Second Life with Reuters (Fils-Aimes' purported avatar is pictured), the NOA President discussing the region locked issue. He makes a valid point about technical issues (NTSC vs. PAL resolutions), but what about Japan titles? As Game|Life's Chris Kohler points out, Japan also sports the US-favored NTSC format. Play-Asia testers are "confident to confirm that a full region lockout exists."

The DS has no region encoding whatsoever, and that sure hasn't hurt the sales in any country. When will Nintendo's home console sector apply the portable sector's philosophy? Will we see enlightenment in their Wii successor, or must we keep to our hack-friendly solutions?

See Also:
Comparing the Virtual Console lineup by region

Read -- Nintendo Exec Predicts Wii Future, Chances of 'GoldenEye' On Console
Read -- Nintendo's Fils-Aime on Wii and Second Life (Reuters)

Tags: reggie fils-aime, ReggieFils-aime, virtual console, VirtualConsole

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JaSoN! @ Nov 30th 2006 8:34PM

I want Goldeneye.

rudimentalist @ Nov 30th 2006 8:46PM

I want Earthbound.

T-Man @ Nov 30th 2006 8:48PM

Sin and punishment(already in english!). all the wars and fire emblem titles. etc.

For the prices we are paying on the vc I don't think getting translations of games we in the US missed out is too much to ask.

DiahrreaMan @ Nov 30th 2006 8:48PM

I want Earthbound VERY badly. That game rocks.

PS. In the first sentence, you put "to", when it should be "two". :)

STILL WAITING FOR GOLDEN SUN 3 DAMMIT!

Optimus Prime @ Nov 30th 2006 8:55PM

They have to respect the original region locks in the original licenses. So, the US gets the NA release of SMB while Japan gets the Japan release. This is the same with PSx and PS2 games (both disc and download).

The bigger issue is why the need for region lock on NEW games; their only response so far is: because we can, and you're gonna buy wii anyways, so stfu and go buy a wii.

Josh @ Nov 30th 2006 8:56PM

I want all of the games listed above.

1up_clock @ Nov 30th 2006 8:56PM

I want Earthbound. That game easily beats most Final Fantasy games by a mile.

otakucode @ Nov 30th 2006 8:58PM

As you said, megabytes are essentially free. The only reason Nintendo won't offer a Japan Store on the Wii Store is out of sheer mean spite.

gLitterbug @ Nov 30th 2006 8:58PM

It's times like this I really hate how big companies work and the fine silk they spin out of bullshit.

I really want the Wii and will probably find one under the Christmas tree, but when I read bullshit like this I would really love to punish the company for their idiocy and arrogance(even if Nintendo of course is not arrogant like their rivals...).

Statements like that just make me think those companies can only blame themselves for people rather downloading a game and using an emulator than getting everything the legal way. They re-sell their old games over and over again for mad profit and then have the guts to say that some games won't be available to a certain market because it wouldn't pay off enough for them to bother, even if it just takes a freaking small amount of work?

Oh right I forgot, this business isn't about giving people fun and making them happy after all but about hyping up people and making them fanboys so they buy everything without question and love their "celebrities" like Mr. Reggieboy here no matter what crap they babble.

Neebs @ Nov 30th 2006 8:59PM

I want a game playing as t3h reginator, where you crush Pony brand consoles and hold launch parties.

Brandon @ Nov 30th 2006 9:03PM

Never played Earthbound, and that's why I want it on Virtual Console. I'm not excited to buy anything I've played. That would just be nostalgia. New experiences are what I want. Sure, I could use the Xbox Live Arcade, but I want proven titles. XBLA titles seem to let me down, and the ones I want get pushed further and further down the stupid Wednesday launch. Both companies just need to put out lots of games on their services at once. Nintendo seems to be doing this better as opposed to XBLA's Wednesday nonsense, but its fresh from launch. Who knows how hard it will slow down?

thunderleg @ Nov 30th 2006 9:04PM

I want Mother 3.

I already own Earthbound.

Jeff @ Nov 30th 2006 9:08PM

"It's times like this I really hate how big companies work and the fine silk they spin out of bullshit."

Yeah, and the sites and publications that are just all too eager to drink the Kool-Aid don't help much either.

I realize this story is mostly about the VC, but their whole attitude is in question here. The whole region coding thing is clearly a negative for Nintendo, however they seem to have "convinced" one or more editors here to the contrary. Region locks are always, always a bad thing, and there is no convincing - or even *unconvincing* - argument to the contrary.

Previously, Nintendo was the most region-friendly of all the console manufacturers. The GameCube was almost trivially easy to region mod by design, and Nintendo never went after anyone who did so (Perrin Kaplan even said "we don't care" in so many words). Their handhelds have never been region locked at all. So, now that the Xbox 360 is basically region free, and the PS3 doesn't even support region coding for games at all, why is Nintendo suddenly so anti-consumer in this one particular area?

The only thing that makes any sense to me is that they're kowtowing to third-party developers who they think will now be reluctant to develop for their competitors but will be more willing to develop for the region-locked Wii. So, fine, Nintendo thinks it'll get them more games. But this is one case where Sony and MS are clearly on the side of consumers and Nintendo is not, and it would have benefited the entire industry if all three manufacturers had put up a united anti-region coding front. Then there'd be no choice for publishers; they just couldn't have region coding even if they wanted it.

As it is, Nintendo has selfishly tried to grab whatever business they can from publishers who desire region locks, then they cynically try to tell consumers that it's good for them. It isn't.

FatalFlak @ Nov 30th 2006 9:15PM

Well put Jeff, well put.

Bunn @ Nov 30th 2006 9:23PM

I don't get region locking this days. The purpose of it was to block pirates (from places like china and etc) from selling very low cost copies on other markets.
But to run pirated games (even same region ones), you have to mod your console. When you do it, region lock is the first thing to go out of the window.
And I also don't get how barring someone from importing a title (a market so small that it doesn't even count) is a good thing to them. Even sony with all it's downs and locks made a region free system. I really don't get it
They probably did it just to bug me

Kevin @ Nov 30th 2006 9:27PM

I wish Nintendo would give us Mother 3 :[

nitefire @ Nov 30th 2006 9:36PM

I want Perfect Dark more than Goldeneye.

But I want Contra even more.

KirbyMeister @ Nov 30th 2006 9:42PM

All entertainment companies do not observe global first sale; merely within-the-country first sale. (and they're doing their damned hardest to get rid of it. 2 words - non-transferrable VC downloads)

ts8lemonade @ Nov 30th 2006 10:07PM

Seriously,

Milquetoast @ Nov 30th 2006 10:33PM

I finally understand why they region lock, at least with video games. Pardon me if this rocket science isn't rocket science to you.

The control they get means that in-demand titles can be leveraged against competitors or to drive sales at the most effective times, on a per region basis. Maybe Japan doesn't need a zombie game or whatever because Company X just released the latest iteration of Pokemon and people are sucking down game system Z like it's going out of style. But in the US it's an open market and the zombie game is done. SHIP IT!!

Also, give me Earthbound, or give me death!

earl g @ Nov 30th 2006 11:16PM

Give Nintendo a shred of favorable press and they'll turn right back into the good old Nintendo of past, aka lazy know-it-all jackasses.

Kai Cherry @ Nov 30th 2006 11:48PM

Region locking is in place, basically so Nintendo can maximize profits in the UK and EU is the theory I have, talking to folks and friends I have in Europe.

Brook @ Nov 30th 2006 11:49PM

"There are always to ways to look"
Did you mean "two ways?" I won't get into how terribly written the rest of the posting is. Joystiq needs a proofreader.

Connor @ Nov 30th 2006 11:54PM

I want Mario Kart 64! And it looks like we'll get it pretty soon, as its one of the only N64 titles thats been given a rating. Hopefully early next year.

Will @ Dec 1st 2006 1:00AM

I just want the original Super Mario Bros. for the NES thats all I ask.

BLACKINFIDEL @ Dec 1st 2006 2:58AM

I have always loved Nintendo's games, but they treat their fans like crap.

Their popular games come out literally YEARS late sometimes.

They know people love thier old games, so they milk the hell out of them and sell games like "Excitebike" for $20.

People ask for something and they say "No, we are gonna give you what we tell you you want."

No SMW on lauch day. No cult classics that people have been begging for. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. People are lined up with money willing to buy a product that cost almost nothing for you to produce and distribute and your answer is that you will release them when you feel it is convenient.

Sheesh

Way to crap on your EXTREMELY loyal fans yet again Nintendo.

Skwurl @ Dec 1st 2006 8:40AM

"I have always loved Nintendo's games, but they treat their fans like crap."

Oh get off it already.

Yeah they should have included a wider variety or VC titles and yes it costs too much - but get a grip.
Nintendo treats it's fans like gold compared to the other two big boys.

32_Footsteps @ Dec 1st 2006 9:47AM

"Nintendo treats it's fans like gold compared to the other two big boys."

Hey, I like alot of Ninty products. I'll probably get a Wii once there are a few more games for it I want. But let's be serious - Nintendo for ages treated its customers like crap.

I actually minored in Japanese during college so that I'd be able to import video games that never came out. I was tired of waiting a decade to finally play Mother, so I just imported Mother 1+2 when it finally came out on the GBA. I bought the Japanese rerelease of Final Fantasy IV because I wanted to see what the game in its original form was like (this was two years before FF Chronicles was released in the States), as opposed to the heavily censored version that came out here. I had to hunt for the Playstation collection Gokujoo Parodius Da! because Nintendo thought we wouldn't appreciate a funny space shooter (to be fair, Sony didn't think we would either - again, thank heavens for imports). I even picked up TwinBee, because that never got a release because Nintendo kept such a tight leash on third parties back in the day that Konami wasn't allowed to release it because they had already used up their "2 games per year" limit.

Nintendo has certainly done quite a few things to gamers over the years. I'm not saying they're worse than their competition... but let's face it, they're not better, either.

Jim @ Dec 1st 2006 10:14AM

...REGION CODE BLUES...

In my book region codes are illegal means to exploit artificial created monopolies.

I dispice everybody that seriously promotes RC-locking as a good thing for customers.

Skwurl @ Dec 1st 2006 10:40AM

"Nintendo has certainly done quite a few things to gamers over the years. I'm not saying they're worse than their competition... but let's face it, they're not better, either."

I gotta disagree – and probably at the expense of sounding like a faboy, but oh well.

I find that for the most part, Nintendo goes above and beyond for their fans. I'm not sure if you read the 'Ask Iwata' interview series, but they shed a little light on the enormous task it is to create a game like Twilight Princess and the amount of detail they include just to please the hardcore crowd.

To me, the fact that they would put so much effort and polish into a game shows the level of dedication to their fans - and that's just one title. That said, I do agree that Nintendo has come a long way since their industry dominating days. I’m also now finding that Sony is eerily repeating the exact same mistakes Nintendo has made.

Yeah they snub their noses every now and then at the North American market (particularly with GBA imports), but I would take that over 'the next-generation starts when we say it does' attitude any day.

Shawn @ Dec 1st 2006 1:19PM

I'm surprised that Nintendo doesn't give at least one game away for Free. I have no interest in the Virtual Console (as my Xbox does all the emulation I can ask for), but I have explored the games, kinda thought about getting Mario Bros... but didn't. Now that Sony has announced Gran Tourismo HD will be available for free, why can't we get... say... Dr. Mario for free.

A smart Nintendo would post a giant poll on their website, listing every game that might possibly be brought onto Virtual Console (like the top-200 games from each system), and let people vote... give the power to the people! I don't think that Nintendo would go through the trouble of something like Mother 3 (as they have already given up on the idea, spurring homebrewers to make their own translation)... but I think it would clarify the picture for the Nintendo Execs... I want Blades of Steel.

I also think paying $4 or $10 for a game that is 10+ years old is a bad joke. Games should be $2, maybe $5.

number40one @ Dec 1st 2006 2:13PM

That's an interesting way of going about it...

Personally, I long for a VC title worth downloading. I'd be there if they just released the original friggin' SMB. (Why this was left out boggles my mind so very very much.) And being the only middle-schooler in my county whose parents DIDN'T let him get a SNES, I've never played all the way through SMW! (Not interested in playing it on a small screen.)

Sometimes, I think Nintendo does things just to perpetuate Americans' impression that they're a "quirky" company.

Shiro @ Dec 1st 2006 3:00PM

"we know Nintendo are wizards with their emulators"

Gah... Must resist... Can't...

Nintendo is a company. "A company" is singular.
Wizards are things. "Things" are plural.

You cannot refer to ONE company as MULTIPLE things. It's incorrect English. (It's called subject/verb agreement. Look it up)

Normally I let this slide online, but I have to criticize you, since you're supposedly "journalists"... Or something. Anyway, the correct thing to say would be, "Nintendo's employees are wizards" or, "Nintendo's a wizard."

Anyway, I still like your site, unlike the idiots who find one mistake and turn into a Hulk-style psychopath.

some person @ Dec 1st 2006 5:27PM

big mistake, reggie

some person @ Dec 1st 2006 8:49PM

big mistake, reggie

TxdoHawk @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:59AM

So, the Virtual Console titles, at least previous games:

- Are straight emulations
- Consist of tiny games that top out at megs in the N64 and SNES department
- Require almost zero work to implement.

Therefore:

- All but the worst games ever would turn a profit.

Therefore

- Nintendo has no reason not to release nearly every game it can legally accquire.

That sums it up. Dear Nintendo, we know you like money. Get to work.

Jimbo @ Dec 11th 2006 11:55AM

What about Super Mario All Stars?
Also what about a free "gift" for the Holidays from Nintendo. I believe everyone would be happy to get the original SMB in their Wii inbox! Come on Nintendo get into the season. Sega did it with Christmass Nights way back when.