Nintendo's Iwata wary of becoming complacent

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Sep 5th 2007 at 5:00PM }

When your system is flying off shelves faster than you can produce them, it's easy to simply lean back and play some Phantom Hourglass on your delightful money printer. Speaking to Newsweek's N'Gai Croal during E3, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has expressed some concern about lapsing into just such a state. While he's obviously pleased with his company's mainstream success thus far, he feels Nintendo should avoid just laughing to the bank on autopilot.

"That's probably Nintendo's next obstacle is to not lose its internal energy and internal momentum," said Iwata. "I believe my most important role right now is to prevent Nintendo from being in a company where people say, 'Oh, Nintendo is arrogant,' 'Nintendo has let its guard down,' or 'Nintendo has lost its challenging spirit.' We want to avoid all of the pitfalls that can come from losing one's momentum." The introduction of Wii Fit and resolution of inadequate Wii production should keep the wrecking ball swinging through the casual gamer barrier -- but what of the longterm Nintendo fans?

Listing games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy, Iwata explains that Nintendo has no intention of abandoning core players. "Still, we really believe that part of our mission is to make traditional games for our traditional audience." Just so long they don't involve carpenter tools.

Tags: Iwatadropthebomb, SatoruIwata

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

vidGuy @ Sep 5th 2007 5:15PM

It's called the Icarus Paradox - you climb too high and you forget to use what got you there and to be willing to change with the market and consumers' desires.

Nintendo found it out the hard way once. Sony likely has burnt wings now and is on their way to crash in the sea. It's smart of Iwata to recognize the problem, but does Nintendo have a solution?

NaeemTHM @ Sep 5th 2007 5:22PM

I think they do. But it's more than that. Iwata has the greatest game developer of all time up his sleeve: Nintendo.

If all he did was crank out AAA titles like he did back in the NES/SNES days, he'd be golden.

WhatIsThatThing @ Sep 5th 2007 5:33PM

Wouldn't it be the Kid Icarus Paradox in this case?

samfish @ Sep 5th 2007 5:49PM

No, the Kid Icarus paradox would be to make a kick ass game and then refuse to make a sequel despite the many, many cries for one (on a console, at least).

NintendoFanbot @ Sep 5th 2007 7:31PM

Dammit, there was a GameBoy sequel to Kid Icarus.

Though I guess it has been far too long anyways.

Where's my EarthBound 2 Nintendo. :(

SKI @ Sep 5th 2007 8:17PM

"I believe my most important role right now is to prevent Nintendo from being in a company where people say, 'Oh, Nintendo is arrogant,' 'Nintendo has let its guard down,' or 'Nintendo has lost its challenging spirit.' We want to avoid all of the pitfalls that can come from losing one's momentum."

This does sound like a dig at Sony.

samfish @ Sep 5th 2007 11:03PM

"Dammit, there was a GameBoy sequel to Kid Icarus."

I know. That's why I said 'on a console'.

Although really, it's been so long and it was on the Gameboy. It doesn't even count at this point, if you ask me!

BananaBoat @ Sep 5th 2007 5:16PM

He doesn't need to cater to us. He had a Zelda launch title, so we all bought, and now we are stuck with a mini-game machine of doom. Nintendo has it good, because they know that us "Traditional Gamers" will buy almost any first party title they put out (Zelda, Mario, SSB, Metroid etc) and that if noone buys the third party titles (lowest attach rateeee) they won't be losing any money. I need HD Zelda, I crave it, give it to me Ninty!

BPM @ Sep 5th 2007 6:14PM

An HD Zelda wouldn't be more fun than an SD Zelda (and by SD, I mean Standard Definition, not Secure Digital or Super Deformed). It'd just be prettier.

And more bloom. Lots and lots of bloom.

Jerk Face @ Sep 5th 2007 8:31PM

Yeah, but, I mean... Metroid Prime 3 is really awesome, right? I know I'm not the only one who thinks so.

And not just in that, "I have to like this because otherwise I have to regret buying a Wii" way. I mean it genuinely is pretty perfect.

Mr Khan @ Sep 5th 2007 5:17PM

Well, the simple solution is just to post monthly sales figures from the GameCube's lifespan all over every branch of Nintendo

The complicated solution involves a setup similar to what Mimi had people doing in Super Paper Mario, involving a guy with a whip and a surface that shocks people

Shagittarius @ Sep 5th 2007 5:18PM

Dear John,

Last night was wonderful, I've never felt the way I did with you with any other man. But things just wouldn't work out between us, I've got a new family to take care of and theres just no room for you in my life. I left some gummy bears and beer in the fridge, I hope you find someone who loves you as much as I did.

-Love Iwata

"Still, we really believe that part of our mission is to make traditional games for our traditional audience."

Well heres a 'traditional' F-off from me.

Crono @ Sep 5th 2007 5:19PM

What the hell are you talking about now?

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 5th 2007 5:23PM

Serioulsy Shaggi... I may be a troll.

But you, besides you are a troll, you are not even funny. Minus to you.

vidGuy @ Sep 5th 2007 5:23PM

He's projecting his last love affair. Let him be.

hvnlysoldr @ Sep 5th 2007 5:30PM

Dear John's aren't funny. Deer John Deer's are funnier.

Exo @ Sep 5th 2007 5:30PM

Well heres the traditional "you are a stupid fanboy so go back to your cave" from me to shag

ps - shag im sorry to hear that its hard for you to sit down now, who knew a japanese company could ream your ass so hard that it effects your brain?

Shagittarius @ Sep 5th 2007 5:32PM

You gotta be a hardcore nintendo fan to not get offended by being refered to as traditional. That implies that those games you love are old and outdated, quaint and worthy of observing once and a while if only to remember what things use to be like.

Hardly sounds reassuring from a company that appears by all means to be abandoning the audience that supported them for all those years as fast as they can.

I take it as a big so long sucker straight from Iwata.

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 5th 2007 5:36PM

I dont feel abandoned... I have Metroid Prime 3, and this year Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros, then Mario Kart, Battalion Wars.

Listen, and keep it in your head: we Nintendo fans like this games.

Its better to have the same characters in great games than create new IPs that will suck.

Im not ashamed of playing Mario games again and again. Im proud. Very proud.

vidGuy @ Sep 5th 2007 5:37PM

Those are your interpretations of traditional, and bad ones at that. The traditional gamer is the hardcore gamer, one who has been around and experienced the now customary elements of video games. He or she is not normally included in the Blue Ocean strategy Nintendo has going. So no, I take no offense to traditional - rather, I praise Iwata for publicly stating this.

Plus, the guy is Japanese, there could be something lost in translation.

Exo @ Sep 5th 2007 5:38PM

WHat the fuck is your point really?

Do you think any of the heads of the big 3 are that smart or are looking out to make the best stuff for you? All of them are just as guilty.

you can't say one peorson is a liar while smiling and eating the other persons shit.

good thing enough people get that because your comments couldn't white out fast enough

fawazr @ Sep 5th 2007 5:54PM

Why are all your comments so damned creepy? Please tell me that your fanboyism is just a gimmick and not some fevered devotion.

Shagittarius @ Sep 5th 2007 6:00PM

I got a comment from all the most extreme Ludiites on this blog, the Nintendo Guestapo if you will. No matter how loud you shout its not going to convince anyone else that Nintendo isn't abandoning the hardcore gamers.

Johnny Bloom @ Sep 5th 2007 6:05PM

Fernando, I compliment the fact that you accept that you're a troll. By the by, what is your native language? I mean, if you feel so inclined to answer.

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 5th 2007 6:07PM

Johny

My native languaje is spanish.

Soy mexicano viviendo en Estados Unidos, legalmente.

Exo @ Sep 5th 2007 6:13PM

Its amazing how you manage to look even dumber with each post.

No matter how many times YOU post it wont make anything you say true either. oh and just cause you heard a new word on tv doesnt mean you have to use it in every post to try and fake being smart, seriously get a new word ludite is getting old.

Johnny Bloom @ Sep 5th 2007 6:16PM

"No matter how loud you shout its not going to convince anyone..."
Now, take this advice. Please. I've read your intelligent, well thought out arguments. Please, I implore you Shagman, please, take your own advice. Brief posts can be intelligent. Not to offend you, or anything. I hope you won't find me rude. I hope you all have a pleasant day/evening/morning/that-akward-time-when-it's-not-really-the-afternoon-anymore-but-it's-not-yet-twilight-or-evening...time (Fun fact: 3:47 PM to 6:13 PM is, actually, that time.)

Sorry for the repost. Screwy reply system.

Kye @ Sep 5th 2007 6:30PM

Shaggi, If your going to try and be a poetic troll, learn from these people;

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/openletters/15paperboy.html

Rubang B @ Sep 5th 2007 8:37PM

I AM SHAGI.
I FEAR CHANGE.
I LET PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET KNOW.

Almack64 @ Sep 6th 2007 11:45AM

"I got a comment from all the most extreme Ludiites on this blog, the Nintendo Guestapo if you will."

Umm you haven't got one from me yet, so here's my traditional response to you. WTF

BTW only a lunatic (ie you) would consider the word traditional inherently negative and degrading. Personally I like traditional better than hardcore. I think traditional gamers are those gamers that were the "hardcore" gamers back in the 80's and 90's that have grown and matured with the industry.

I'll glady take that indentifcation especially if it seperates me from today's "hardcore". There's nothing wrong with today's hardcore gamers like there's nothing wrong with today fanboys. I just feel in all these years I've grown a little.

Gavin @ Sep 5th 2007 5:21PM

Too late...I already feel that way about Nintendo.

I outgrew their demographic and now have just about no interest in what they have to release. Especially since now the emphasis is on on rubish titles such as Brain Age and Nintendogs. I still haven't even picked up Zelda for the GC because Wind Waker was such a meh-fest.

Nintendo went the way of Sega as far as I'm concerned. Just milking the same old cow until it is withered and dry. I want something new and slapping waggle control on it doesn't make it fresh.

mr nimblewick @ Sep 5th 2007 5:24PM

Name a developer who does not milk their popular franchises and I'll show you a developer that makes generic FPS's.

Crono @ Sep 5th 2007 5:26PM

Hows that PS3 treatin' you?

vidGuy @ Sep 5th 2007 5:27PM

Nintendo is giving their traditional fans what they want - more Mario, Zelda, Smash, etc - while expanding their demographic and creating new franchises and game genres.

You may fall out of the traditional demographic, and you may not be picked up in the casual demographic, but damn, Nintendo is trying and I'd say they are doing it right. Lose a few hundred gamers, gain a few million.

Gavin @ Sep 5th 2007 5:43PM

The Wii is reminds me of the Neocon's getting Dubya into office. A victory doesn't necessarily translate into a successful performance. Lots of broken promises and dreams unfufilled.

The Wii's quagmire is Mini-game collections.

mr nimblewick @ Sep 5th 2007 5:44PM

"The Wii is reminds me of the Neocon's getting Dubya into office."

Except that they Wii has actually won the majority.

Kaemon @ Sep 5th 2007 5:54PM

Right... Nintendo has gone the way of the Sega, thats why they're making the most money, selling the most products, and being the most successfully. Right, they've obviously failed.

Of course, I can see you're a absolute idiot from your "Neocon" post and all that, so really, what you say isn't too important.

Rubang B @ Sep 5th 2007 8:46PM

You didn't outgrow Nintendo. Nintendo outgrew you.

hvnlysoldr @ Sep 5th 2007 5:31PM

Pre-emptive PK FIRE!

Miles Pulsford @ Sep 5th 2007 10:54PM

aw hell yes

NintendoFanbot @ Sep 5th 2007 5:37PM

Yes, Master Iwata, please continue to grow the empire.

For Wii, who live in the land of milk and honey, sunshine and lollipops, Wii and DS games, commercial success and critical acclaim, eternal prosperity relies on treating it with care during the respective seeding, nourishing, harvesting, and celebration seasons.

*starts chanting*

http://reggieiwatarap.ytmnd.com/

Slvrgun @ Sep 5th 2007 5:41PM

Nothing is wrong with milking a franchise if the milk is still good and sweet. If you were implying Halo 3, then you're correct in saying Halo was milked, but Halo is leagues more interesting then anything Nintendo has put out in nearly a decade. The N64 was the pinnacle of Nintendo gaming. The Gamecube was complete garbage. And yes I have a Wii. It's ok, I play it mostly with my gf.

mr nimblewick @ Sep 5th 2007 5:43PM

"Halo is leagues more interesting then anything Nintendo has put out in nearly a decade"

I and many others highly disagree.

vidGuy @ Sep 5th 2007 5:46PM

"Halo is leagues more interesting then anything Nintendo has put out in nearly a decade"

100% disagree. I found Wind Waker to be much more deep and interesting than anything I've played on a Microsoft console.

GoldenS1104 @ Sep 5th 2007 5:56PM

I find Halo to be a very good FPS. They didn't do anything spectacular, but they managed to do most things right. Saying that it is better than anything Nintendo has released in years is a bit much IMO. I feel that SSBM, Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess are better than Halo to name a few. That's not saying Halo's bad. Those game are just exceptionally good IMO. I much more hyped for Brawl than I am for Halo 3, but I still plan on picking up both.

fawazr @ Sep 5th 2007 5:59PM

"but Halo is leagues more interesting then anything Nintendo has put out in nearly a decade."

To you. See, it's always good to state opinions as opinions and not as fact because your opinions only matter to you and no one else; and stating them as fact might confuse people into thinking that you knew what you were talking about.