As we reported on a few hours ago, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata held a Q&A session for Nintendo’s Q1 2011 financial results earlier today. Although he didn’t prepare a presentation, he did provide a few opening remarks, mainly focusing on the 3DS price drop. Iwata also discussed salary reductions for executives, including himself.
If you’re interested in seeing Iwata’s comments in summary form, head on over to this link. It also contains additional details from the Q&A session.
Iwata’s full opening statements can be read below.
Good morning. Before accepting questions, there is one thing that I would like to address here.
Since the first fiscal quarter has limited importance within the annual business of game companies, it does not make much sense for me to make a detailed presentation on the business in that quarter, so I have not made such preparations for today. On the other hand, a number of people must have such doubts as, “Why does the company have to make such a drastic markdown now?” Please let me talk about that before the Q&A session.
First of all, we have made the decision to markdown the Nintendo 3DS because we recognize that the current situation surrounding the system is different from that before the launch and immediately after the launch.
Having strong momentum is very important for game platform businesses. Once momentum is lost, great power is needed to change that trend.
Multiplatform
North America:
1. Medal of Honor (EA Games, PS3)
2. Brink (Bethesda, X360)
3. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft, Wii)
4. Zumba Fitness (Majesco, Wii)
5. Brink (Bethesda, PS3)
Japan:
1. Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (Nintendo, Wii)
2. Queen’s Blade: Spiral Chaos (Namco Bandai, PSP)
3. Meruru no Atelier (Gust, PS3)
4. Queen’s Blade: Spiral Chaos – Limited Edition (Namco Bandai, PSP)
5. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2011 (Konami, PS3)
UK:
1. Zumba Fitness (505 Games, Wii)
2. Dirt 3 (Codemasters, PS3)
3. L.A. Noire (Rockstar, PS3)
4. L.A. Noire (Rockstar, X360)
5. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft, Wii)
Nintendo Wii
North America:
1. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
2. Zumba Fitness (Majesco)
3. Epic Mickey (Disney)
4. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
5. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
Japan:
1. Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (Nintendo)
2. Wii Remote Plus Variety Pack (Nintendo)
3. Inazuma Eleven Strikers (Level 5)
4. GoldenEye 007 (Nintendo)
5. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
UK:
1. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
2. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
3. Just Dance 2: Extra Songs (Ubisoft)
4. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
5. Lego Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
Nintendo 3DS
North America:
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (Nintendo)
2. Rayman 3D (Ubisoft)
3. Ridge Racer 3D (Namco)
4. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D (Konami)
5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Activision)
Japan:
1. Zelda no Densetsu: Toki no Ocarina 3D (Nintendo)
2. Starfox 64 3D (Nintendo)
3. Tales of the Abyss (Namco Bandai)
4. Sengoku Basara Chronicle (Koei)
5. Nintendogs + Cats: Inu & New Friends (Nintendo)
UK:
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (Nintendo)
2. Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends (Nintendo)
3. Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo)
4. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (Capcom)
5. Lego Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
Nintendo DS
North America:
1. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
2. Pokemon White Version (Nintendo)
3. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo)
4. Cars 2 (Disney)
5. Pokemon Black Version (Nintendo)
Japan:
1. Devil Survivor 2 – Limited Edition (Atlus)
2. Devil Survivor 2 (Atlus)
3. Nora to Toki no Koubou: Kiri no Mori no Majo (Atlus)
4. Battle & Get Pokemon Typing DS (Nintendo)
5. Pocket Monsters Black (Nintendo)
UK:
1. Let’s Draw! (Majesco)
2. Pokemon White Version (Nintendo)
3. Pokemon Black Version (Nintendo)
4. Art Academy (Nintendo)
5. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
Ultimately, if you’ve purchased a 3DS at this point and you have access to the Internet, hopefully you won’t feel as though you’ve been ripped off by the time we move into 2012. In the end, the digital downloads that Nintendo will be offering for the “3DS Ambassador program” later this year probably totals more than $80. I understand that not everyone will be happy with the selection of games and some folks will be displeased with this type of compensation, but when you really think about it, Nintendo didn’t actually have to create this program in the first place.
Plus, keep in mind that NES games on the Wii Shop Channel cost $5. And while a cost standard hasn’t been set for the Game Boy Advance in the past, they’d sell for at least $5 – probably $8 or so actually. So you’re technically getting more bang for your buck – even moreso if you’re interested in the games that will be offered.
I just realized it’s Friday! Normally that would mean Game Night would be taking place in about twenty hours… but that won’t be the case today. I have a personal matter to attend to later this evening so I won’t be able to host Game Night.
Things should be back to normal next week. Thanks for your understanding!
Is Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D still coming out this year in North America? Right now I’m honestly not sure.
Yesterday we heard that the game had been pushed back to 2012 along with Europe, but apparently Konami never actually made any sort of comment about that. They’ve only said that they haven’t announced a release date for North America.
So there’s still a chance that Snake Eater 3D will arrive this year. We’ll just have to wait for a more official statement from Konami.
