“We look at what we do well. We look at what we don’t do so well. The things we don’t do so well we commit ourselves to fixing and making improvements. I would put our digital business in that second category. We are looking hard at our digital business and saying, ‘You know what? We can do better.’ And we will do better. It will not look like what our competitors are doing. But we will have more content, have it be more easily discoverable. We will make it engaging and a much bigger piece of our overall business.” – Reggie Fils-Aime
“It is certainly something we’re looking at. Our current approach is a device-based approach. The content is tied to a particular device. Until we move to a different type of an approach like an account based approach you’re not going to be able to transfer the content. We are looking at how best to bring that to life. The step function change we want to see is going to need to be on a new device, like the 3DS.” – Reggie Fils-Aime
A single account for online content is basically what fans have been clamoring for. That would make things much easier and the possibility of transferring downloads between systems could become a simple process.
Just a heads up – Nintendo has confirmed that BS Fire Emblem: Record of Akeneia Wars will be included in Hero of Light and Shadow.
Thanks to Thomas N and Robert for the tip!
Reggie on competing technologies…
“You know, candidly, my personal reaction to what our competitors are doing is meaningless. In the end, the consumer is going to vote with their time, and the consumer is going to vote with their wallets and pocketbooks as to which products and experiences are the most compelling. From that standpoint we’re confident that the consumer will continue to choose Nintendo not only from a home console standpoint but also from a handheld standpoint. In terms of what’s providing the most compelling experiences, the best value in terms of what you get for what you pay, and certainly the multiple lines around our booth would seem to suggest that that should be true.”
Reggie on any interest in 3D console gaming…
“You know, the reason we focused on 3D in a handheld is because, first, we could control the experience, meaning the screen is part of the device. We provide a way for the consumer to individually tune into that experience with the depth slider on the side. And for us that’s the best way to bring a 3D experience to the consumer today. In the future, when there are set standards for 3D television sets, when the prices for those sets come down to reasonable levels, certainly there may be a 3D experience in the home, but then the last hurdle will always be the glasses. And you know $125, $150 a pop, which is what they’re running today, for a family of four on top of everything else, that’s a huge commitment. So, there are a lot of open questions in our view as to whether 3D in the home is going to be the same type of “wow” that 3D in the hand is.”
Thanks to jcr for the tip!
“It’s quite recent, in general. As we explained, it’s very important to us that we have their support and all the Nintendo teams have been dedicated to our partners and spend the time with them. What is important is the surprise effect that the 3D can give on the screen, it was one of the best tools to convince publishers to work as soon as possible with the hardware. They wanted to get hold of it immediately.” – European managing director of marketing and PR Laurent Fisher
It seems like a lot of third-parties were able to accomplish an awful lot in a short time span. I just hope that a number of announced titles will be finished for the 3DS’ launch.
“Technologically speaking, a variety of different things are possible with the 3DS, for example, 3-D video chat.” – Satoru Iwata
“We have just introduced the new ‘Legend of Zelda’ to be launched in 2011, which shows that we are not in a hurry to launch the next generation of home console.” – Satoru Iwata
The source of this information also mentioned that Iwata hinted that a 3DS launch date and price might be coming soon. Additionally, Nintendo may have additional features that will be announced in the near future.
Initial UK trade sources believed that the 3DS would be launching sometime in October. However, that no longer seems likely. A high-ranking UK retail source has told CVG that the system will now be released in early December, with a marketing campaign planned to start at the end of October. It also should be noted that limited stock is expected.
“Early indications to us are that the launch is going to emulate Wii in December. We’ve been informed that Nintendo wanted a long run-up to Christmas, but now it’s going to be a close-run thing. We’re not expecting a lot of stock before next year.” – UK source
“Of course, I have heard commentary that people feel that Nintendo’s online functionality is behind the others or is lacking in some ways. And I can say that we are not currently satisfied with the online efforts that we have made so far, and we are working at ways to improve those. On the other hand, I do not think that online functionality is something that we should be devoting resources to for every single product. Instead, I think that Nintendo’s ability to create an offline experience that feels incredibly unique and compelling is a particular strength that we have.
Going forward, what we will continue to do is to evaluate the individual products and experience that we’re creating on a product-by-product basis, and make a decision as to whether or not it’s more important to devote resources to making that offline experience more fun and compelling for products where that is going to be the most important element of the game play; and then for products where it is going to be more important, to add online functionality and make that online functionality robust and compelling. We will continue to focus our efforts there when it’s appropriate, but it’s going to be a product-by-product decision.”
And just in case you were wondering why New Super Mario Bros. Wii lacked online functionality, Iwata touched on that topic as well…
“When Shigeru Miyamoto created New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he ultimately made the decision as to whether or not it would have an online functionality. So I’d like to talk about why he chose not to include online functionality in that game.
Anytime you’re developing a game, there are limits to elements of development, like time, manpower and resources. What we’re always considering is what we can do with limited resources to maximize the appeal and entertainment value of a particular product. And this is something that Mr. Miyamoto is of course also constantly thinking about. I think that his decision on whether or not to include online functionality with New Super Mario Bros. Wii was based on the idea that the true value of that product was going to be determined not by online functionality, but on how compelling and unique the experience would be for two, three or four people to be able to play that game together in the same room.”
There’s a few old shots mixed in, but new screens are also included.
“… I can’t go into detail on what the plans are today, but of course, with a device like Nintendo 3DS, we do intend to offer some type of digital distribution. What I can say is that if that type of digital distribution is not something that is very new and fresh compared to what we have done with Nintendo DSi, then I think we’re going to have a hard time reaching out beyond the audience that actively seeks out that type of digital content. So up until now, much of the digital distribution focus has been on more of a “pull type” where the consumer goes out, gets the content and pulls it to themselves. With Nintendo 3DS, we’re looking at a model that would be more focused around the “push type,” where we’re able to push information or content out to the device. And with a model like that, what it means is that because the consumer doesn’t have to actively seek out the information themselves, it gives us a venue for creative new ideas of our company or of our developers to reach consumers much more easily. And ideally, if it is possible, we would like to try and find ways to customize that functionality as much as possible to meet our consumers’ tastes. Unfortunately, we can’t go into detail on that today because there’s still a number of questions about the degree to which we’ll be able to do that. But I would like to say that we are thinking seriously about strengthening digital distribution.” – Satoru Iwata
Based on all of those Japanese trademarks we saw recently, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Now I just want Iwata to confirm a complete Virtual Console for the 3DS!
