Nintendo would be 'embarrassed' by Project Natal and Playstation Move

PALGN News | Company prioritises innovation over high-definition output.

With the recent unveiling of PlayStation Move and the impending launch of Microsoft's Project Natal later this year, it has become clear that Nintendo's Wii system is facing heavy competition in the arena of accessible, motion-based input devices. Surely then, the venerable company feels pressure to release a high-definition iteration of its popular console to remain ahead of the pack?

Not so, according to Nintendo of America's President, Reggie Fils-Aime. Speaking to gaming blog Kotaku, Fils-Aime reiterated Nintendo's focus on innovation in lieu of cutting edge technology. "For us high definition by itself is not the next frontier," he said. "For us, we need to provide a whole new compelling experience in our next generation."

Furthermore, Fils-Aime states that Nintendo will only consider the release of a new console when circumstances dictate it necessary. "When Mr. [Shigeru] Miyamoto goes to Mr. [Satoru] Iwata and says: 'I have this great idea and I can't do it on the Wii,' that's when there will be a next generation console... I think Mr. Miyamoto himself has said that he is very interested in a high-definition experience, but to be one-hundred and twenty percent crystal clear, HD by itself, in our view, is not enough to go for a new console past the Wii."

Finally, Fils-Aime availed himself of the opportunity to criticise Microsoft and Sony for their attempts to chase Nintendo's wider audience by way of their respective, impending motion-control input devices. "I think a hallmark of Nintendo is that we are constantly trying to innovate," said Fils-Aime. "I think we would have been embarrassed to do what our competitors are currently doing."

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75 Comments

ArcherGrave

1 year ago

lol that just shows how crap nintendo is,

" Yeah, when we get competetion we might through some new crappy hardware out "

Jarrod

1 year ago

That 'crappy hardware' has made them billions upon billions and put them miles ahead in this generation's console race.

Your opinions of the system and company mean nothing when it comes down to business.

sobriquet835

1 year ago

ArcherGrave wrote

lol that just shows how crap nintendo is,

" Yeah, when we get competetion we might through some new crappy hardware out "

Better than simply copying the innovations of other companies. Really, Sony and MS are just imitating Nintendo with NATAL and Move. They just couldn't handle being defeated by hardware they see as inferior. We're yet to see if Move or Natal will be any good at all. Personally, I don't think Natal will be a success in it's current form, it won't be able to get past gimmicks, and most likely move won't innovate any more than the Wiimote has already done (ie there will be nothing really fresh), and will have a pricepoint on it's own that will rival the price of a new Wii, once you take into account the Eye controller itself. When they release Move, Wii will likely drop in price, and Nintendo already have a large competitive advantage in terms of the size of their games library. Not only that, all the casual families that already have a Wii are unlikely to shell out $600 for a PS3 just so they can have the same thin they bought 6 months ago with slightly better graphics.

There is a good reason Nintendo are currently winning this generation. It's the same reason the DS has destroyed the PSP: Clever marketing, thinking outside the box. Sony and MS have a lot of catching up to do, and Move and Natal are only the first steps in that.

Having said all that, the PS3 and 360 have got superior games for hardcore gamers, by far, they're just not gonna get the same business success as Nintendo in this generation.

Karai Pantsu

1 year ago

Nintendo are 'winning' this round because they managed to make a profitable piece of hardware, unlike the other two players. It's all well and good to sit there and sing their praises for innovative design and 'sticking to fun over graphics' etc. - fact is that they would have gone HD in an instant, if they didn't want the profits more. Hell, they say as much here.

ArcherGrave

1 year ago

EatChildren wrote

I wasnt talking about the wii, they just said so simply that if the need arises they will be able to quickly throw another console out onto the shelves in no time.

The point isnt the money they made, its how they treat gamers with the attitude " We will keep sucking the market dry, then throw out another gimmick for people to hype about, and if anyone complains we will just show them how much money we made "

( stop giving me figures, no one plays their wii, kinda like christmas cakes...No one eats them, yet everyone has one )

sobriquet835 wrote

ArcherGrave wrote

lol that just shows how crap nintendo is,

" Yeah, when we get competetion we might through some new crappy hardware out "

^ Massive fanboy right here,

Yes, the Ps2 and the Ps3 had a 6 month distance between each othr
Yes, the Ps3 only has SLIGHTLY better graphics ( lol )
Yes, Natal is a gimmick and the wii mote isnt
Yes, wii has a extensive shelf of games, 95% of which isnt shovelware

Edit: Oh and the wii is $400 + to play the wii you need atleast another remote and 5 more games,
If anything to properly use the wii, it would cost you MORE than a PS3

Haha, you know what? a 360 is like $300 with Halo 3 ( new ), a 360 is cheaper than a wii

Phreakuency

1 year ago

I'd be embarrassed if I created an awesome idea and never made much of it.

Nintendo are good at that. Sure, they may innovate but if they are just gonna sit on their arse and let shovelware fill up the library, being content with simply making money on their hardware then it's their own fault that their competition want to jump in and improve on what they started.

Cyph

1 year ago

I'll keep my opinions to myself regarding the Wii, however, Nintendo should perhaps be a bit more respectful when commenting on competitors, the shoe could be on the other foot one day. Plus, they should consider this as flattery.

Mr Waffle

1 year ago

Sorry, what? Natal is doing what the Wii is doing? I was under the impression you needed to hold a piece of plastic in your hand for the system to notice you. Which, you know, Natal doesn't....

It's all nice and well for Nintendo to be smug on top of their pile of money, but I can seem to recall they were in that position about 15 years ago. That smugness didn't last forever.

pom013

1 year ago

Cyph wrote

The shoe was on the other foot 10 years ago. Remember the Gamecube?

fullmetal_adam

1 year ago

ArcherGrave wrote

lol that just shows how crap nintendo is,

" Yeah, when we get competetion we might through some new crappy hardware out "

Did you even read the article? That's not at all what he said. They will bring out a new console after they can no longer make the games they want to on the Wii. The Playstation Move is a blatant rip-off of the wiimote and nunchuk though.

THEMAN

1 year ago

Nintendo should be embarrased at how underspecced the wii is.

battlegrub

1 year ago

ArcherGrave wrote

^ Massive fanboy right here

Let's not throw stones in glass houses. They're all good systems, with different pros and cons.

Smurf80

1 year ago

THEMAN wrote

Nintendo should be embarrased at how underspecced the wii is.

How so? it does everything Nintendo wants it to do, just because it doesnt have the grunt like the others do doesnt mean its underspec'd.

Going by your theory Sony & Microsoft should be embarrassed that a sub par machine has blowen both offerings from the abovementioned companies out of the water sales wise.

If anything Nintendo should be commended, recycling gamecube hardware and adding motion control = console domination this generation.

And lets not forget the failure rates for the Wii compared to the 360 & PS3......

Jellyfish

1 year ago

My launch 360 has had one problem. My launch Wii has had two and it's spend most of it's time in storage

obviously not a common occurrence but it is an occurrence non the less.

Nintendo got there first and profited immensely. Had any other company got there they'd have done the same. Sony's product from what little I've seen is certainly a me too product and if they push it I'd certainly be worried if I were Nintendo. Microsoft is going off in their own direction and even if it does t pay off for the 360 it'll have amazing uses elsewhere.

ArcherGrave

1 year ago

Smurf80 wrote

THEMAN wrote

Nintendo should be embarrased at how underspecced the wii is.

You sound like some sort of backstabbing traitor to gamers, obviously alot of us are abit cut that such a massive gaming company that started gaming has just been sitting on its cash pile and laughing its head at gamers.
Problem is, Nintendo could do so much more for the gamers but they dont and as you keep point out " Sales , money , earnings "

Its just sad that you have to hide behind how much money they made. Its like a debate for McDonalds food being healthy and your defense would be " Yeah but macca's makes like, a ton of money a day bro "

Edit: why should other gaming companies be embarrassed? they're going forward with technology trying to bring the future of gaming up for us all even if it is at a cost of profit to them, i think you should be embarrassed for what you just said.

Imagine if the 360, PS3 and PC never updated their hardware past the wii? we would be sitting with limited hardware that can do crap all ( and if you have any brains at all then you would know im not just talking about graphics )

Smurf80

1 year ago

Arrh archergrave the revenge neg predictable as ever....

ArcherGrave

1 year ago

Smurf80 wrote

Arrh archergrave the revenge neg predictable as ever....

Im just trying to say Nintendo is taking a huge crap on gamers, just for profit

And you neg me

Frozencry

1 year ago

The Wii embarasses me because I'm waving a vibrator around.

And now Sony are doing the same thing but with a glowing ball on the front. I wonder if they'll have a ribbed edition, gives me ideas on what to buy for some friends for the lols.

But in seriousness, not surprised to see Nintendo throwing **** at the competitors. They've made a 'few' nice games this gen, but on an overall note they've lost the plot and have gone all mainstream and 'cash-in' like, etc.

I'd throw plenty of **** around if I was that rich too. I can afford the bodyguards and assassins if need be.

ArcherGrave

1 year ago

Lol denny,

I just really want Mario party 87 and Zelda 42, But i'll settle with Ben 10 5 and madagascar 4

Quin

1 year ago

Okay, so you're in charge of a massive multinational business, you need to make money, and the economy is in trouble, you have two options;

- Take risks on new properties, develop powerful system to accomodate this. Potential gains are high, but so are the risks.

- Do what Nintendo have done and guarantee a massive income stream.

I know which one makes the most business sense.

Nietzsche

1 year ago

Ah motion control gaming. I have yet to play one wii game and it's unlikely I'll get natal. I do my best to ignore stuff that I won't like

Generosity of God

1 year ago

i can't believe how many people here are taking what's been said out of context.

if Nintendo's mindset is to always be the innovator, then of course they would be embarrassed if they had to release a peripheral to catch up to a competitor's innovation.

and all the people who keep saying Nintendo aren't supporting the core gamer are just plain wrong. Nintendo have released as many core titles on Wii as they did with N64 and Gamecube in the same time frame. add in what they've done in the casual sector and you'll see Nintendo are actually being more active than previous generations.

battlegrub

1 year ago

ArcherGrave wrote

Im just trying to say Nintendo is taking a huge crap on gamers, just for profit

I don't get this odd notion that Nintendo is somehow "disloyal" to gamers, can you name some examples? It seems to me that the company has been operating the same way for the last 2 decades.

If you think, as I pretty much do, that xbox and playstation are better consoles, then by all means go buy their products. Obviously Nintendo feels they are satisfying customers judging by sales and don't feel they need to change.

THEMAN

1 year ago

EatChildren wrote

2 guys have posted something about nintendo's sales. L O L

I don't play sales. I play games. I have a wii but yeah, the graphics are just laughable bad.

I like my games HD, good graphics, great sound.

so you know what your opinion on his opinion.

well, everyone has an asshole.

and nintendo is hedging that its fanboys are stupid enough to pay a premium for a BLACK wii.