Fischer regrets "geek and otaku" remark, Jaffe reacts

Posted Jun 13, 2008 at 10:17PM by QJ Staff Listed in: Wii Tags: David Jaffe, Europe, Flash Memory, Laurent Fischer, Nintendo of Europe
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Nintendo Wii - Image 1When asked about a question regarding the Wii's rather constricted system memory, Nintendo of Europe's Marketing Director Laurent Fischer uttered quite a confusing remark, saying that "geeks and otaku" are the only ones who are concerned with the issue.

Needless to say, the small quote ruffled the feathers of many gamers, and even some game developers such as David Jaffe.

Here's what Jaffe had to say about Fischer's comment, as written in his own blog. Yes, it's quite an earful, so ready your fire hoses:

This statement, especially coming from a marketing person, reeks of one of two things: A - Arrogance at a level that should make Nintendo - if this statement reflects the core of the company - very ashamed. B - A marketing person who has no real clue about games and thinks she’s being cute and coy by dissing the ‘geeks’ cause she thinks the mainstream loves them now.


Fischer later issued a statement that he "regrets" his remark, saying, "I have huge respect for those who, like me, share a common passion for Nintendo and want to make it clear that I would never use and I didnÂ’t use this terminology in such a context or way to cause [offense]."



Via videogaming247

 
 
 

Comments [refresh]

by FreePlay - 2008-06-14 01:08
» So

You guys didn't report on the Laurent Fischer remark... got a link to someone who did?

by BIH - 2008-06-14 02:59
» ....

quote from the magazine,

" First Nintendo will not be concentrating any significant marketing spend on the service - journalists attending Nintendo's preview event were told that it was their job to spread the word about WiiWare titles via reviews and other coverage.

...when asked a pertinent question about the limited Wii system memory was raised, Laurent Fischer, managing director of marketing at NoE, easily slipped into talking about how "geeks and otaku" were the only people who want this issue addressed."







If Nintendo tink that its only "geeks" need hard drives then they need to open their eyes. I know a few people who arnt big gamers, but since wiiware they have been running out of Blocks and needing to transfer games or delete them.

If they dont bring something out then users will become fed up with wasting 20 minutes copying games to the SD card and from or downloading them again and we may see the fall of the Wiiware service.

by Mister Common Sense - 2008-06-15 05:33
» that's low

Nintendo, insulting their own user base. It's the "geeks and otaku's" fault for actually expecting Nintendo to do something they want! Don't you know, nobody should ever expect anything from Nintendo. Nintendo does what they want as long as the profits roll in!



"Fischer later issued a statement that he "regrets" his remark, saying, "I have huge respect for those who, like me, share a common passion for Nintendo and want to make it clear that I would never use and I didn’t use this terminology in such a context or way to cause [offense]."



Great generic apology from the legal department! They've been oh so busy lately!

by whaleshark - 2008-06-15 12:45
» OH YA MAN!

Jaffe just went koolaid man on fischer's oversized and over(man)touche d ass. YA JAFFE THAT IS THE ***** THAT I LIKE TO SEE! and this guy is OBVIOUSLY arrogant. i mean really, insult the whole fanbase.

by Project D - 2008-06-18 21:06
» Hmm.

One dude at Nintendo...of Europe...not the whole company. But on the singular point, we agree, it was pretty low for the person to say something so derogatory and thoughtless.

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