Konno talks possible 3DS messaging update, demos, 3D-only software, Apple
Hideki Konno on adding text chat to 3DS…
“We are going to be making updates to the system, and I think that’s something that would be really interesting to do.”
Konno on 3DS demos/demos in general…
“I question whether or not demos are effective. [Demos on 3DS would be] technically feasible. There are cases where people play a demo game and they’re satisfied with that play experience and they don’t buy the game. There are also times when they play a demo and think, ‘Wow, this is great, I’m going to buy this when I have the chance.’ So whether or not it’s an effective use of resources, I’m not sure. You could wake up in the morning and say, ‘Oh look, I’ve got a new game demo’ or a new game.”
Konno on Nintendo discouraging 3D-only software…
“We want to get software out to as many people as possible, and there are some people who just can’t see 3-D. We’re moving away from any stance that says if you don’t use the 3-D functionality you can’t play this game.”
Konno once again tackling the subject of Apple, the App Store, and pricing…
“If what you’re coming up with [is something like] the Apple iTunes store, where people can freely set their prices, I don’t think that’s going to be the case. I’d be a little sad to see if there was a product that I worked on for a couple of years go on sale for a buck. Having a business model that allows for the prices to be driven down that low, as a developer it’s kind of scary because we want to protect our content, and the only way we can justify creating good content is if it makes business sense. It’s more than a pricing issue, it’s a company value. We want to compete with ideas, we want to surprise our consumer base. That’s the battleground for us — are we surprising consumers?”
