AfterDawn: News

Nintendo 'not ready' to think about new console

Reggie Fils-Aime, President and COO of Nintendo of America, has told Forbes that the company is not ready yet to begin work on a new home console to replace the Wii. "When the software developer comes forward with an idea that can't be executed on the current platform, that's when we start thinking seriously about the next system. We're not there yet, from a Wii perspective," he said.

Fils-Aime once against mirrored Nintendo's general attitude toward including the latest technology in games consoles, saying that as an enabler, technology has to enable a new and unique experience for players. "So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience," he said.



"Therefore, we're not interested. What we have to push for are groundbreaking new experiences. Technology has to enable it, not to be a means all by itself." He said that Nintendo has no plans to sell virtual items like rivals, saying the company does not feel it is an idea that creates value for the consumer.

On the issue of the new motion controllers on the horizon for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (PS3), Fils-Aime cautioned that the competition will face its own challenges in terms of the need to develop compelling software and to offer it as a competitive price.

"They will be separately challenged because the motion-enabled part of their business will only be a small part of their line. For us, it's core to what we do," he said.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 10 Mar 2010 20:00

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• 12 comments

• dragnandy

  they need to focus less on the next gen console and more on the Wii motion+. I honestly think that its an important peripheral that Nintendo seriously needs to expand on and make it a basis for all of the wii games.

  10.3.2010 20:25 #1

• tatsh

  Quote:"When the software developer comes forward with an idea that can't be executed on the current platform, that's when we start thinking seriously about the next system. We're not there yet, from a Wii perspective," he said. This approach worked okay when Nintendo was the best console technically (N64 vs PS1, SNES vs Genesis, NES vs a lot of things), but it really cannot work today. The Wii is an upgraded GameCube and that's nice but where are all the big titles going? Often, 360 first and then PS3 if not both at once. Many games therefore get NO release whatsoever on the Wii, and some get a release but a limited one (cannot download DLC, reduced graphics of course, etc).
  
  Instead of developers coming to them and saying, 'We can't do X on the Wii', the developers are just saying 'screw it, make it for the other consoles'. Probably a lose-lose in most cases, but the fact is less of these 'big titles' are coming out on Wii.
  
  Maybe it is not yet time to move on to the next generation of consoles (Microsoft said they have not planned a next Xbox yet either), but I think Nintendo needs a better strategy to convince so-called 'serious' gamers (the ones who love their 360s and PS3s) that the Wii has anything to offer. This trend has been the same since the GameCube anyway.
  
  Nintendo also needs to convince more developers to get their game on Wii regardless of its limitations.
  
  The Wii is cheap, was the bestselling console for Christmas. But that does not mean that the game selection is as good as PS3 or 360. And while it definitely has exclusives, many former Nintendo fans have said 'good day' to Mario and his friends.

  10.3.2010 22:01 #2

• Ragnarok8

  Agreed, Wii need third party exclusives, or even third party games for that matter.

  10.3.2010 22:06 #3

• smike69

  Hmm
  
  Welp, I am one that bought into the hype of the Wii
  for what I thought was true motion, soley based on it for sports games..
  
  Ie Baseball,Bowling,Tennis, & for the first 2 years now
  they have all been done mostly done with a software hack,..
  
  then Nintendo came out with the motion plus accessory..and while
  many complained of yet another add on hardware device to
  simpy boost revenue..it does work.. (and maybe I can understand the cost, battery life, etc reasoning of not coming out with what was
  perceived it was supposed to do to begin with)
  
  but as soon as sony & MS saw that a low cost ( to the company) console with a good idea and to still have it compete in sales.. but yet break promises & hope for the masses with the hype, Nintendo is still stringing along their customers as long they can..until they see fit , where they HAVE to compete..
  
  Seriously Nintendo, bring out a darn Baseball game where we have to
  actually pitch, or bat. or sword fight, instead of doing a "jerk" with the contoller
  to have it do "what we want" ! pathetic.. and yet that is the only thing going for you & your idea..
  
  guess what, many of other companies died by thinking they were leading, playing the see & watch what happens game..and then they are OUT !!

  10.3.2010 23:13 #4

• KillerBug

  "When the software developer comes forward with an idea that can't be executed on the current platform, that's when we start thinking seriously about the next system"
  
  This is a blatent lie...he is not saying that no one has come to him with games like GTA4, he is saying that they simply don't exist. It might be reasonable to say that they were not developing anything if they were the most advanced system, but they trail far behind the competition, and they then admit that they have decided not to consider entering the current generation, even as Sony and Microsoft prepair to enter the next generation.

  10.3.2010 23:30 #5

• emugamer

  Quote:"When the software developer comes forward with an idea that can't be executed on the current platform, that's when we start thinking seriously about the next system. We're not there yet, from a Wii perspective,"lol...the devs don't go to Nintendo with their ideas because Nintendo refused to create the hardware. It's easy to stifle innovation when the devs have to work within the limitations of yester-years hardware. There are plenty of other examples of current gen MS and Sony ideas that can't be executed on a Wii platform. Are they blind? What really happened is Nintendo's own in-house devs got the memo that told them that their hands will be tied, and for the next 10 years find new ways to market old gimmicks. There is no shortage of possibilities for next gen Mario and Zelda. Richer environments, deeper, longer stories, expanded multiplayer possibilities. Game developers should be able to utilize new tech to expand their creative horizons. Thank goodness MS and Sony see this. All Nintendo seems to care about is profit and risk. They need to go balls-to-the-wall and allow their exclusives (and customer base) to grow. Talk about being detached from reality. Is it possible that Kim Jong-il secretly became the majority shareholder of Nintendo?
  
  I can't believe that they are so stupid. This is a trick.

  11.3.2010 07:24 #6

• Josipher

  Originally posted by KillerBug: "When the software developer comes forward with an idea that can't be executed on the current platform, that's when we start thinking seriously about the next system"
  
  This is a blatent lie...he is not saying that no one has come to him with games like GTA4, he is saying that they simply don't exist. It might be reasonable to say that they were not developing anything if they were the most advanced system, but they trail far behind the competition, and they then admit that they have decided not to consider entering the current generation, even as Sony and Microsoft prepair to enter the next generation.good to see people dont buy into his crap"
  
  Quote:Fils-Aime once against mirrored Nintendo's general attitude toward including the latest technology in games consoles, saying that as an enabler, technology has to enable a new and unique experience for players. "So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience," he said. so essentially what hes saying is that if i could mod my N64 to have 3d gaming id choose crappy animated 3d images of mario instead of high def God of war on the PS3?
  i dont think the guy believes the words that come from his own mouth..perhaps because theyve been put there by saturo iwata..
  

  mods go home

  11.3.2010 07:28 #7

• DoomLight

  The Next Nintendo will have the processing power of either an Atari 2600 or Original Xbox overclocked to 1.2 ghz. and will be controlled by telepathy.
  
  you will of course need to wear the Wii-Helmet™ similar to the ones they use for shock therapy in mental institutions. but hey! u have to be crazy to buy another Nintendo.

  11.3.2010 08:09 #8

• emugamer

  Originally posted by DoomLight: The Next Nintendo will have the processing power of either an Atari 2600 or Original Xbox overclocked to 1.2 ghz. and will be controlled by telepathy.
  
  you will of course need to wear the Wii-Helmet™ similar to the ones they use for shock therapy in mental institutions. but hey! u have to be crazy to buy another Nintendo.I want a Tron game. If nintendo can sell the Tron suit with it, I'll buy one :P

  11.3.2010 08:20 #9

• jos22

  Quote:Nintendo has no plans to sell virtual items like rivals, saying the company does not feel it is an idea that creates value for the consumer. could not agree more.
  
  but we all know Nintendo are working on a new console and it will support HD. it will be expected from a consumer point of view. people who don't care about HD will have no reason to buy a new console. if there still happy with the likes of wii supports. but we all know those who are interested in a new platform from Nintendo are looking for bigger and better Mario Metroid and Zelda titles.

  11.3.2010 11:10 #10

• xnonsuchx

  Whoever named this article got it wrong...it reads "Nintendo 'not ready' to think about new console" when the actual article quote is "not ready yet to begin work on a new home console," which is quite different.
  
  It would be UTTER BS that they aren't even THINKING about it. Many companies are already thinking about a next version before they release a product. They may not be nailing down specifics, but they are thinking about it constantly so that they are prepared when the time comes.

  11.3.2010 22:37 #11

• KillerBug

  Ok, but they really should be nailing down specifics...no...they should have had a prototype at E3...that way they would only be like 6 years behind everyone else.
  
  I wonder if Nintendo realizes that you can get a Wii for around $53 now? That is about 1/3 the price of a PSP! When someone is happy to sell their system for that cheap, how do you expect to sell games?

  11.3.2010 23:39 #12