Reggie: Nintendo has addressed 3DS’ two needs, Nintendo Video and Netflix still on track for summer
Until the 3DS starts selling, no one, particularly critics, is going to stop talking about the system’s performance. The 3DS has a whole lot to live up to thanks to the stellar sales of its older brother, the DS.
Three months into the 3DS’ lifecycle, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime believes the company has rectified two issues holding the handheld back: the lack of an outstanding Nintendo franchise and the absence of numerous online functions.
Fils-Aime told Kotaku:
“When we launched, we had a fantastic day one and a very strong week one. We talked to consumers. Consumers were highly satisfied with the device. They loved the built-in applications. They loved the game experiences. We had high levels of awareness. We had high levels of intent-to-purchase. But when we started talking to consumers who were aware or interested, but hadn’t yet bought, they told us two things: first, I need a big Nintendo franchise for our purchase. The second thing was I need the network to be up. I need the connected experiences to be there. I know those were the two factors, based on the consumer information. So now we jump to where we are. We’re going to be launching Ocarina. We’re going to follow with a steady drumbeat of Star Fox and Kid Icarus and two Mario titles and the Luigi title. I think we’ve got that issue not only identified but addressed. We’ve just done the first network update. We’ve got the eShop up and running. We’ve got the 3D movie service still on track for the summer. We’ve got Netflix still on track for the summer. So I think we’re well underway to having that addressed as well. My expectation is that with the adjustments we’ve made, we’re going to be back with strong momentum on the 3DS. The system did not launch earlier than planned. We thought there would have been a tighter gap between launch and the first network update.”
And how about that video service that Nintendo promised awhile back? It’s on the way! Fils-Aime reconfirmed that Nintendo Video and Netflix are coming this summer.
“There will be music videos. There will be 3D movie trailers. There will be Nintendo-curated content, things we believe are interesting that, candidly, we’ve helped finance. I am actively involved in all of that content identification. … It’s going to be fun.”
