Nintendo Q&A

[heartgold]

http://www.nintendo....20127qa/02.html

Sorry it's way too long to post this interview, please click on the link and have a read.

Update: Alright, Sammy Samusu from neogaf has pointed out quite a few details. I've left them below this post now.

Originally Posted by Miyamoto:
The connection ratio for the Nintendo 3DS has reached approximately 60%, and we feel that the network environment has improved significantly. We also put importance on safety and reliability of the network because many people use it.

Originally Posted by Iwata:
Up until now, once consumers who had bought a game got tired of it, they would never play it and it would never draw public attention again. Even if the game had the sales potential to other new consumers, they rarely actually bought it because the consumers who already had bought it would never talk about it again and the game would be considered an old one. Having said that, what if we could provide add-on content through the network? As I referred to before, for example, this is the idea of supplying new stages to Super Mario users who want to play the game more but have completed the game and lost interest in the existing stages.

Originally Posted by Iwata:
We already have the necessary infrastructure to digitally distribute the software on a scale as large as the packaged software. There must be a solution other than positioning digital distribution as an enemy to wholesalers and retailers. When we find one, we think that the solution will provide an interesting future in which both of us can benefit.

Originally Posted by Shinji Hatano:
Third-party developers worldwide have recently been interested in micro-transactions and many of them are considering doing some business in this field. We will start organizing the various requests from developers and working with them to create new and interesting software. Please wait for some time for announcements from each developer.

Originally Posted by Iwata:
In determining the launch date of the Wii U, we need to take into account not only what to release at the launch period but how to keep the sales momentum after then. In the past, I mentioned that having strong momentum is very important for game platform businesses, and as a matter of course, we are now more convinced of that and we need to have a backup plan ready.

Originally Posted by Iwata:
More than 10 million handwritten notes have been exchanged in the four weeks after the launch of the SwapNote service. And, I believe that the number of handwritten notes to be exchanged will increase at an accelerated pace if we can have users continue to enjoy the software for a long time. In fact, we have some plans to encourage more people to use it, and you will find out what I am talking about when we reveal such plans in the future.

Originally Posted by Iwata:
Although many tasks used to be done only internally in the past, we are now working with people outside the company in several business fields. When we make any relevant announcements on such projects, we cannot just say we are working with this company on that project. Unless we can make more comprehensive announcements by discussing the details of the subject product, it may not make any sense to you. So, we would like to discuss this topic sometime later. There are several projects we will be able to talk about this year. I hope that I will be able to pick up examples which will show that Nintendo is taking care of the business fields in which it lacks internal resources.

Originally Posted by Miyamoto:
I supervise whenever necessary. The basic idea is, I’m reminding myself to exercise patience (so that I will not state my opinion nor get myself involved in their work.) I end up using less of my energy and, as a result, I am starting to have time that I can spend for myself. Now, I am spending more time than before on finding new ideas for new developments rather than focusing my energy on work in my (development) teams in order to solidify the contents of (existing) franchise titles

.

Originally Posted by Iwata:
In the overseas markets, the main battlefield for third party publishers is the home console market. On the other hand, now that they [third-parties] were able to confirm the Nintendo 3DS’s marketability in the just-finished holiday sales season, their attitudes are gradually changing. Until such software from the overseas publishers pours into the market, the Japanese software makers have a great business opportunity, I believe. If the company can cooperate with the Japanese software makers and increase the overseas sales of their quality software, we can prove to the others that the market is there for them and the Japanese software makers will be able to expand their markets. Therefore, if we can do so, there will be a number of advantages. In other words, the important factors are: one, such titles will be launched by the western software makers and succeed in the market, and: two, Nintendo and the Japanese software makers will effectively cooperate so that their titles will sell well outside Japan.

Originally Posted by Iwata:

Although we have not included the software in the lineup that we have announced so far for this year, we are, of course, preparing several [Nintendo 3DS] titles with which we will be able to aim to expand the entire gaming population.

Originally Posted by Miyamoto:
[On Wii U] Regarding the size of the development teams, after releasing various titles this year, I think that we will be able to explain about the teams that are developing the software, but we have already started working with a number of other companies. As far as graphics capabilities are concerned, there are already other hardware systems with similar functions. Therefore, we have designed the Wii U to be recognized as being different from any other hardware system. Although I cannot elaborate on its network functions today, as we are preparing for the launch of the Wii U, we are taking into consideration its network-related capabilities. We are making efforts so that when we release applicable software in the future, you will be pleasantly surprised and you might say, "Oh, this is what you were trying to achieve!" or "These are the titles you were preparing."

Originally Posted by Iwata:


When we need massive power and have a lack of internal resources, we collaborate with outside resources and pour necessary resources to where they are needed. We are increasing the frequency of working with outside developers where Mr. Miyamoto and our internal developers alone used to develop.

Bonus:

Originally Posted by Miyamoto:
I am not the right person to talk about the payment system... (Looking at Mr. Iwata)
Originally Posted by Miyamoto:
I’m afraid that I am being chosen to answer all of the difficult questions today.

 

[emigre]

I did Ctrl+F for "hardcore gamer," but nothing came up

 

[Hyro-Sama]

The interview is way too long. I'll wait until a news site releases a summary.

 

[Veho]

Sorry it's way too long to post this interview

Do what every reputable news source does, cherry pick the text for intriguing and/or controversial bits and then quote them out of context.

Mr. Miyamoto [...] always tells his subordinates that he’s going to retire soon, in order to nurture the young developers.

Then slap a sensationalistic title on the whole thing, something like "Lying CEO: Miyamoto leads by misleading", and you're all set.


*Example taken from the actual text.

 

[heartgold]

Swapnote has had 10 million handwritten exchanged in just four weeks. Come on Nintendo if that isn't a sign that everyone wants a simple chat implanted in the firends list. XD

 

[xist]

Do what every reputable news source does, cherry pick the text for intriguing and/or controversial bits and then quote them out of context.

I iz de bestest reporterer....

We are anticipating.......the Nintendo 3DS.......to go away......soon.

 

[heartgold]

Sorry it's way too long to post this interview

Do what every reputable news source does, cherry pick the text for intriguing and/or controversial bits and then quote them out of context.

I'm not getting paid for this. I haven't read the entire interview though.

If someone else is willing to, that's cool.

 

[prowler]

i would give up the web browser for a chat (not pussy letters) that you can open in-game.

letterbox takes forever to open.

 

[Wizerzak]

ZzzZzZzzzzzzzZZzZzZZZZzzZZZzzzzzzz...................

What a boring Q&A, maybe you should change the title to say that it's about sales statistics and strategies. I came here expecting more info on the Wii U etc.

 

[frogboy]

Not worth reading IMO...

 

[xist]

Not worth reading IMO...

It's actually a pretty interesting piece with details on Nintendo's current thought's about 3DS marketplace positioning and the future for consolidation of the company. It's Iwata and Miyamoto for heaven's sake!

 

[mjax]

Why call it a Q&A, Nintendo, when it leaves one with a lot many questions. "You will see soon", "They will decide and come up with a solution best for all" -Perhaps do a Q&A when it's all decided?

 

[chartube12]

What I got from reading most of it:

Nintendo is greedy and doesn't want to offer downloadable full 3ds games at a discount.

Nintendo is still living in hello kitty world.

Nintendo is still behind the times.

Nintendo repeating their mistakes they made with cards and refuse to make big changes required for keep up with the rest of the gaming world

 

[frogboy]

Not worth reading IMO...

It's actually a pretty interesting piece with details on Nintendo's current thought's about 3DS marketplace positioning and the future for consolidation of the company. It's Iwata and Miyamoto for heaven's sake!

If you're interested in that kinda stuff, then it's a decent read. I was looking for more info on Wii U, but unfortunately...

 

[DJPlace]

What I got from took from reading most of it:

Nintendo is greedy and doesn't want to offer downloadable full 3ds games at a discount

Nintendo is still living in hello kitty would.

Fixed!

and with Download 3ds (if they ever do that) would take up a lot for memroy on the sd card.

 

[prowler]

I was looking for more info on Wii U, but unfortunately...

... they wouldn't release more information about the Wii U on a Q&A.

 

[frogboy]

I was looking for more info on Wii U, but unfortunately...

... they wouldn't release more information about the Wii U on a Q&A.

Depends on the Q&A.

 

[heartgold]

I was looking for more info on Wii U, but unfortunately...

... they wouldn't release more information about the Wii U on a Q&A.

Depends on the Q&A.

Want more Wii U news, E3 is your best bet.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

I did Ctrl+F for "hardcore gamer," but nothing came up

You're an idiot.

Anyways, interesting read. Bit wordy I suppose, but at least they went into detail and answered everything to show that they are taking it seriously.

 

[Erdnaxela]

we are aiming to make a system which shall not be forced into competing with the others where the contenders can fight only with massive developer resources and long development times as their weapons.

So, it'll be just like the Wii.
They don't want to enter the "Microsoft vs. Sony" fight.