Iwata Talks Prices, Names, and Blogs |
In an interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Satoru Iwata talked about their goal, console pricing, the Wii name, a bit more. Firstly, we'll get the prices out of the way. He did not reveal the price for the Wii, so stop holding your breath now! He talked about how it wasn't really unusual that no price was announced. He referred to the Xbox 360, PSP, and DS - none of which had their price revealed at E3. However, with a launch this fall, he said to expect a price announcement this summer. When asked how it would compare to the PS3, he had this to say:Q: On pricing, can you give a general sense for how you might compare to something like the $600 version of the PlayStation 3?
A: First of all, all we've said is that we'll have an affordable price range. We're using "affordable" in the sense that the price won't be significantly higher than Nintendo's prices have been historically. Compared with $600, anything is affordable, so it's absurd to even compare our price.
With the reactions to the name, Iwata yet again brought in the inclusion of non-gamers. He wants those who don't know "know that Game Boy Advance and GBA are the same thing" to know what the Wii is. After all, would people understand if we kept saying "Rev" like I sometimes did with my friends? Likely not. He also reminds us that people thought "Game Boy" was a stupid name back then.
Lastly, he said this about the Dual Shock 3:
Q: Sony showed its own motion-sensing controller this week. What do you think?
A: A motion-sensing controller that you hold with both hands is completely different from one that you can use with either your right or left hand. Worldwide, bloggers have been writing that they copied us, but I don't really think we've been copied.
I don't think at all that we've lost Wii's advantage. We've come out with a unique, new innovation. I think the fact that a company would do something similar is an admission from the outside that it has value. So instead of getting angry, we should celebrate.
Q: You mentioned bloggers. Do you read blogs?
A: I read blogs quite a bit.
Q: Gaming blogs or other blogs?
A: I read various things, but I use a blog search engine to look for blogs related to my work. But I also read blogs that aren't related to games.
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Comments [refresh]
sony didnt copy nintendo they are both different concepts just depends on the one you feel most comfortable using.
What ?! He must have bad taste. He is a idiot!
Great comeback Iwata. Everyone is blabbering over Sony copying but really, the PS3 controller can ONLY do what the Nunchuck attachment on the Wii controller alone can do. Atleast he, unlike everyone else, is looking at it from the right angle: Sony has showed acceptence for the idea, even though it was really a low blow by adding it TWO WEEKS AGO in order to steal some of Nintendo's thunder at E3. It was really a "We can too" thing. Heck, Wario Ware Twisted on GBA used very simlar analog accelerometers to play the game by tilting the system, which aint saying much for PS3's "Added" functionality. I doubt many games, outside of racing titles, will even use sony's tilt sensor.
As for the price of Wii: all Nintendo consoles have launched at $199, he said it would not be significantly higher in price than past launches. I expect $249, which has seemed about right all along. We're getting more than likely TWO Wii-motes, the Nunchuk attachment, and the Wii-Sports mutli-game package as a packin. A bargain if you asked me, considering that Wii is (though not my alot), faster than the old XBOX, and the amazing amount of technology inside each of those remotes.
I also think it's cool Iwata reads up on fan opinions and feeling s to what Nintendo is doing. Keeping his ear to the ground is the best thing he can do if Nintendo (Or an game company) wishes to succede. Iwata is SOO much better as NCL's president the Yamuchi-San was, Iwata is much more in touch with the older and teen audience, and is willing to take more intelligently thought out risks than Yamuchi. After all, Iwata is the DSLite designer, and the conceptualist behind the design of Wii, which IMO is the best looking console in gaming history.
Yamuchi was the man behind launching GAMECUBE in purple - not soo smart. From what I've heard he was also one of those "My way or the highway" kind of guys which left very little room for freedom of developement or ideas outside of his own.
Iwata means great things for Nintendo, and a strong future. Soo does expanding NOA to accomidate more stateside game developement, and the aquisition of Retro studios.
Nintendo's future is the brightest it's ever been, arguably much brighter than sony's at this point with rehashed HD software and a $600 console with controllers that DONT RUMBLE - are they insane? MS on the other hand is doing great, with PS3 quality software on a more affordable console, with the best online system. My only gripe is that MS's 360 hardware is cheaply made - I've had TONS of lockups with my 360, and lots of issues with it's controllers, not to mention the two games the system ate when my dog tripped over the charger cable for my controller while I was playing.
This gen though, I see Nintendo doing VERY well, and having some truly awesome new franchise coming about throught first and third party devs, thanks to the uniqueness of the platform and it's controller. Can't wait to get some classic Sega games with that baby! :)
Nintendo come on keep your price at 199$ like you have ever sense snes came out or make it cheaper.
Somewhere between 150-200 would be nice, I'm looking forward to it.
And about Sony's controller, that's not copying. I have a Microsoft controller on my pc that has that function, and the damn thing is like 7 years old. They just used an allready existing technique ;) However, I'll probably get both the Wii and PS3 (I just need my MGS and FF games!!!)