Nintendo Regrets Going It Alone With The Wii

[omster]

Michael McWhertor — For a console with an impressive install base of more 86 million, you might think that Nintendo wouldn't have any regrets about the Wii. But Nintendo's CEO says he does have one regret, one that he intends to address in the future.

"I now regret that we didn't tie up with someone outside the company to market the Wii," said Satoru Iwata at a recent investor conference, speculating that the "fate of the Wii might have been different." Based on Reuters report, Iwata did not appear to specify exactly what type of "tie ups" Nintendo might pursue.

"Now I am aware that we should not rely too much on ourselves," he added. "You will see what I mean by this when we market the 3DS and the Wii in the future."

Nintendo has in the past tied itself with McDonalds on a number of promotions. It revealed earlier this year that it would partner with AT&T to provide wireless hotspots to Nintendo 3DS owners.

http://kotaku.com/#!5795908/nintendo-regrets-going-it-alone-with-the-wii

I suppose this means there is something coming soon. Even for the Wii. Though it depends on what he means by "market the Wii."

It's crazy even so, that Nintendo stood mostly by themselves this generation.

[confoosious]

I'm not really sure why the wii needed MORE marketing. It sold like gangbusters.

Maybe they should spend that marketing money on a few xbla execs and do their online right.

[omster]

I think the word "market" used in its way here is a bit vague and can be open to interpretation.

On that other thought, Iwata did praise Xbox Live during his GDC speech. Signs to of what is to come? Hmmm.

[dothog]

They should team up with the gods behind Almond Joys. A free Almond Joy with every new console. They wouldn't be able to meet demand.

I see what Iwata is getting at here, they're leaving a lot of coin on the table. Maybe they could pack in 50c liter of Coke coupons in with the console. Or include 2 for 1 vouchers on Charmin big rolls in the Club Nintendo thing. People gotta wipe their asses, right?

[cochesecochese]

I wish Nintendo would make something easier for smaller devs ala XNA. Le sigh. There could still very easily be strict certification (Seal of Quality) to get your games on the Wii Channel but it would be nice if crazier ideas with a little less budget had a chance to make it there.

[omster]

Maybe something like this is what he meant.

http://www.ign.com/blogs/bullseye2/2011/04/26/nintendo-ign-epic-meet-greet

[laaj]

I can already picture the backlash about all the profanity on the online feature since Nintendo has pigeonholed themselves as kid friendly company for decades. Any of you remember the Animal Crossing Wii pedophile BS?

[Morrigan Lover]

I actually prefer Nintendo's online strategy over xbox live because when I play online with Wii I'm not getting called a $$$$$$ every 5 minutes.

[confoosious]

I actually prefer Nintendo's online strategy over xbox live because when I play online with Wii I'm not getting called a $$$$$$ every 5 minutes.

turn off audio.

but making it a pain in the ass to get an online game is no fun.

[Blade]

I actually prefer Nintendo's online strategy over xbox live because when I play online with Wii I'm not getting called a $$$$$$ every 5 minutes.


...I agree. There's too much anonymity on XBL to make it any fun, unless you enjoy trash-talking (douchebag :-P). The only annoying part is writing down separate friend codes for nearly every game when there's already a Wii Friend Code bound to the console itself. I mean, why is my SSBB code 1032-3071-4674 when my Wii code is 7651 0390 8479 7863? Fix that, and I'm good to go.

[solo_boy3]

they have always done everything their own way

[foltzie]

I wish Nintendo would make something easier for smaller devs ala XNA. Le sigh. There could still very easily be strict certification (Seal of Quality) to get your games on the Wii Channel but it would be nice if crazier ideas with a little less budget had a chance to make it there.

Nintendo may never do any sort of rejections outside of technical reasons again due to the lawsuits from the NES days. They got nailed hard in Europe so their current process is to just confirm the game doesnt do things like try to brick the console or delete memory cards.

Still an SDK would be nice...

[omster]

Now it becomes more clear.

First Paragraph:
Last week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said he regretted going it alone with the Wii, which was an odd regret given the machine's massive success. Was something lost in translation? Today, we get a look at how Nintendo itself translated Iwata's remarks.

The whole article:
Nintendo Concedes the Wii Struggled with Online, Promises to Improve (http://kotaku.com/#!5797716)

[Sir_Fragalot]

Now it becomes more clear.

First Paragraph:
Last week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said he regretted going it alone with the Wii, which was an odd regret given the machine's massive success. Was something lost in translation? Today, we get a look at how Nintendo itself translated Iwata's remarks.

The whole article:
Nintendo Concedes the Wii Struggled with Online, Promises to Improve (http://kotaku.com/#%215797716)

So basically he is saying we fucked up with Wii, even though it prints money. I actually find to be very honest and truthful and I respect his opinion. Hopefully he helps fix this with project feel or cafe or whatever the hell they want to call it.

[omster]

So basically he is saying we fucked up with Wii, even though it prints money. I actually find to be very honest and truthful and I respect his opinion. Hopefully he helps fix this with project feel or cafe or whatever the hell they want to call it.

I guess so. Sounds like big changes are coming. From a first-party perspective, they are solid. Throw in a developed online service plus third party support and Nintendo's next system may be be a complete one.

Related article:
Iwata: Nintendo to plan first-party game launches around third-party publishers (http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/iwata-nintendo-to-plan-first-party-game-launches-around-third-p/)

Sort of unrealed, but interesting article:
Japanese Games are Less Popular These Days Because of Changing Tastes In Graphics, Says Nintendo (http://kotaku.com/#!5797769/players-desire-for-realistic-graphics-limits-the-global-appeal-of-japanese-games-says-nintendo)

[spmahn]

I actually prefer Nintendo's online strategy over xbox live because when I play online with Wii I'm not getting called a $$$$$$ every 5 minutes.

Yeah, instead you just get kids who hack their console and ruin every game, and Nintendo not caring enough to stop or ban people. Mario Kart online was great until eery game was filled with kids who hacked their game to have nothing but blue shells.

[Monsta Mack]

If Nintendo could go strong with online I would consider a Wii 2 in It's first few years.

XBox is great with all the online features - party chat, organized market place with constant new DLC, and pretty much every other game has some online focus. Wii has very little in online gaming and I've yet to see Nintendo do anything about cheaters (Didn't Goldeneye have day one hacks?).

Of course it means Nintendo will most likely charge yearly, but I'm ok with that as long as It's on par with XBL.

[Corvin]

I actually prefer Nintendo's online strategy over xbox live because when I play online with Wii I'm not getting called a $$$$$$ every 5 minutes.

This is the biggest load of horse shit line of thinking of this generation.

Xbox has 3 or 4 different tools at your disposal to avoid the assholes of the world. Ignoring those tools, both Xbox and PS3 HAVE a similar method to Wii chat... unplug your microphone...voila you have an instant Wii online experience.

Nevermind that the go-to solution to Wii Chat is being in an Xbox Live party while playing the Wii.

[crunchewy]

This is the biggest load of horse shit line of thinking of this generation.

Xbox has 3 or 4 different tools at your disposal to avoid the assholes of the world. Ignoring those tools, both Xbox and PS3 HAVE a similar method to Wii chat... unplug your microphone...voila you have an instant Wii online experience.

Nevermind that the go-to solution to Wii Chat is being in an Xbox Live party while playing the Wii.

I seem to recall that I'd get voice chat (hear other people) whether I had the headset plugged in or not. Their voice would come over the TV then. And yes, it was *really* annoying. No, I didn't get any satisfaction out of hearing people trying to rap while I played a game. I couldn't stand it. However, I changed my settings to only friends for chat and that fixed the problem. IMHO, that should be the default, but oh well. At least we have the option to turn off voices from strangers.

[foltzie]

This will be interesting, Nintendo seems to be saying they are going to outsource their online experience for Cage/3DS or acquiring someone with expertise in this area.

[SuperPhillip]

I seem to recall that I'd get voice chat (hear other people) whether I had the headset plugged in or not. Their voice would come over the TV then. And yes, it was *really* annoying. No, I didn't get any satisfaction out of hearing people trying to rap while I played a game. I couldn't stand it. However, I changed my settings to only friends for chat and that fixed the problem. IMHO, that should be the default, but oh well. At least we have the option to turn off voices from strangers.

The Xbox 360's fanbase is made up of either racists, homophobes, or 12 year old kiddy children. Horrible fanbase. Worst ever for a mainstream console without a doubt.

[moothemagiccow]

12 year olds can be racist homophobes!

[pochaccoheaven]

This is the biggest load of horse shit line of thinking of this generation.

Xbox has 3 or 4 different tools at your disposal to avoid the assholes of the world. Ignoring those tools, both Xbox and PS3 HAVE a similar method to Wii chat... unplug your microphone...voila you have an instant Wii online experience.

Nevermind that the go-to solution to Wii Chat is being in an Xbox Live party while playing the Wii.

you mean you want the guy who's making the profanity to unplug his microphone? why would they want to do that if they are having fun calling people with profanity.

or

are you talking about the person who hears the profanity and doesn't want to hear them?, which was stated by crunchewy that you still hear them.

i like the other stupid solution, to mute the tv. why would you want to play a game with no sound. why should one be benefited while the other punished. every solution and idea presented here is not beneficial. face it, this is a big problem with the 360/ps3 chat. who wants to play a game and be called with profanity. it seems corvin like to be call by profanity.

i don't know why nintendo is regretful of being alone with the wii. third parties never seem to like nintendo even after giving what third parties want. like the gamecube, it was what third parties want, a system with plenty of power and enough data storage as well as being easy to program. yet, third parties didn't care and gave support to the more complicated and limited ps2. when third parties complained about high cost of production, nintendo released the wii, which was cheaper to make games, third parties ditched the wii and went for higher cost production on the ps3/360. the wii has everything that third parties want, cheap production cost, and a higher user base. yet third parties are supporting a higher production cost and smaller user base. i don't know what nintendo is regretfull about when third party don't care about them. with a new wii coming out, it will be the same as a 360 with motion controls, yet nintendo will still not get the support from third parties.

[Corvin]

Your ignorance of the 360 is clear, but for shits and giggles:

- global mute in the dash. Mutes everyone that is not on your friend's list
- mute in game - I'm pretty sure every game (well the major games at least) offer a way to mute any single obnoxious/obscene player. Most even make it a simple button press or two to not interrupt the action too much.
- Feedback - leave appropriate feedback and you are never matched with that person again
- unplug your mic - there is a setting to turn off chat from your speakers. Like I said, by all accounts, this would be most similar to the Wii online experience that you seem to prefer. :lol:

The bulk of the time I only play in Live parties with friends and I've had my global mute set since they added it around '06-'07. On occasion I'll turn it off for team games, even met a few decent people. I haven't put up with a single person I didn't want to in about 5 years, which is why the complaint of dealing with a*holes on Live so ridiculous in 2011. If you can't figure out the features of your console, that's on you, but complaining about it is as childish as the 12y.o. on the other end of the microphone.

The Xbox 360's fanbase is made up of either racists, homophobes, or 12 year old kiddy children. Horrible fanbase. Worst ever for a mainstream console without a doubt.

Nice generalization. Live doesn't have the greatest reputation but with such a generalization you are insulting a lot of good people on Live, including a lot of CAGers. The a*holes are vocal minority...albeit, very vocal. :lol: Think about it, even if you get one asshole in every match you play in Halo or CoD(unlikely), you are still playing with 6-14 other decent people that weren't assholes. Also, you have to factor in the non-big release games and XBLA games. Games that don't have a big following tend to have more fervent and friendly fans. Same applies to XBLA. So while there are plenty of dickheads on Live, they are far from the majority and mostly stick to shooters anyway. That 12 year old dickhead isn't going to be hopping into Carcassone matches anytime soon. :lol:

[2DMention]

The Xbox 360's fanbase is made up of either racists, homophobes, or 12 year old kiddy children. Horrible fanbase. Worst ever for a mainstream console without a doubt.

That isn't the 360, but the games you're playing. Quit playing Halo and Call of Duty. Those games seem to attact the dooshes.

Now if you play Catan, Carrasome, or CuldCept, you won't find people like that.

[foltzie]

Unfortunately, for some reason Nintendo will receive greater scrutiny for such antics and Microsoft already receives a fair share.

I can understand why Nintendo wants nothing to do with that, but the benefits do outweigh the negatives. By Far.

[pochaccoheaven]

Unfortunately, for some reason Nintendo will receive greater scrutiny for such antics and Microsoft already receives a fair share.

I can understand why Nintendo wants nothing to do with that, but the benefits do outweigh the negatives. By Far.

that's another interesting thing, if the situation that occurs on the 360/ps3 chat rooms [the use of profanity and other insults] were on a nintendo console, you'd get a big outcry from every corner of the world and every person. but the fact that it's coming from microsoft and sony, there isn't that much of an outcry from parents, politicians, game reviewers, etc.... but if it was from nintendo, you'd have political protest to stop the sales of nintendo, how fcc should be involved, parents rallying, etc.... look at corvin who is very insistant on saying that what occurs on the 360/ps3 chats are okay and alternative solutions to them are great. but if it was the wii, it would be a total opposite.

[SuperPhillip]

Your ignorance of the 360 is clear, but for shits and giggles:

- global mute in the dash. Mutes everyone that is not on your friend's list
- mute in game - I'm pretty sure every game (well the major games at least) offer a way to mute any single obnoxious/obscene player. Most even make it a simple button press or two to not interrupt the action too much.
- Feedback - leave appropriate feedback and you are never matched with that person again
- unplug your mic - there is a setting to turn off chat from your speakers. Like I said, by all accounts, this would be most similar to the Wii online experience that you seem to prefer. :lol:

The bulk of the time I only play in Live parties with friends and I've had my global mute set since they added it around '06-'07. On occasion I'll turn it off for team games, even met a few decent people. I haven't put up with a single person I didn't want to in about 5 years, which is why the complaint of dealing with a*holes on Live so ridiculous in 2011. If you can't figure out the features of your console, that's on you, but complaining about it is as childish as the 12y.o. on the other end of the microphone.



Nice generalization. Live doesn't have the greatest reputation but with such a generalization you are insulting a lot of good people on Live, including a lot of CAGers. The a*holes are vocal minority...albeit, very vocal. :lol: Think about it, even if you get one asshole in every match you play in Halo or CoD(unlikely), you are still playing with 6-14 other decent people that weren't assholes. Also, you have to factor in the non-big release games and XBLA games. Games that don't have a big following tend to have more fervent and friendly fans. Same applies to XBLA. So while there are plenty of dickheads on Live, they are far from the majority and mostly stick to shooters anyway. That 12 year old dickhead isn't going to be hopping into Carcassone matches anytime soon. :lol:

I figured one generalization deserved another. "Wii is for soccer moms, Wii is kiddy, Wii has no games" CAG is shitty like that, and I'm just fitting into this shitty fanboy-infested community.

[Corvin]

look at corvin who is very insistant on saying that what occurs on the 360/ps3 chats are okay and alternative solutions to them are great. but if it was the wii, it would be a total opposite.

:roll: Where did I say that? Quit twisting things around. Are you even a parent, or is this a another mythical argument like previous posts about the 360?

There are parental tools (http://support.xbox.com/en-us/pages/xbox-live/how-to/parental-control.aspx) in place to prevent such things in addition to the things I listed above. Microsoft also has a team people who do nothing but play games and police Live all day long. Does Nintendo do the same? Will they? The answers to those are no and I doubt it. If you're so worried about the kids, be a parent and use the tools that are provided to you.

We get it, you are anti-PS3 & Xbox. Based on your posts in the Game Informer thread, you clearly know nothing about the 360 so why continue to debate from a place of ignorance?

[Corvin]

CAG is shitty like that, and I'm just fitting into this shitty fanboy-infested community.

I find that people, for whatever reason, get overly defensive about the Wii, moreso than the other two consoles. It's odd. All three have something to offer. There's nothing wrong with wanting something cool from each of them, or wanting them to step up and at least offer something comparable. It seems as if you aren't offering up 100% blind devotion then even the tiniest bit of criticism comes off as the end of the world. :lol:

[SuperPhillip]

I find that people, for whatever reason, get overly defensive about the Wii, moreso than the other two consoles. It's odd. All three have something to offer. There's nothing wrong with wanting something cool from each of them, or wanting them to step up and at least offer something comparable. It seems as if you aren't offering up 100% blind devotion then even the tiniest bit of criticism comes off as the end of the world. :lol:

It's simple, really. Wii is the most trolled of any of the consoles. It's that simple. Nothing special or secret about it.

It doesn't help when the head of this site is a Shaq Fuing manchild fanboy who says comments like "let's use the Wii as a doorstop".

EDIT: Nvm about the smiley.

[depascal22]

It's simple, really. Wii is the most trolled of any of the consoles. It's that simple. Nothing special or secret about it.

It doesn't help when the head of this site is a Shaq Fuing manchild fanboy who says comments like "let's use the Wii as a doorstop".

EDIT: Nvm about the smiley.

I hear the "Xbox is for racist homophobes" way more than the "Wii is a kiddy console and/or has no games" argument.

[confoosious]

I hear the "Xbox is for racist homophobes" way more than the "Wii is a kiddy console and/or has no games" argument.

Huh?

I have never heard "xbox is for racist homophobes". And people troll the shit out of ever wii post in the deals forum. I can't remember the last time someone trolled an xbox game deal simply cause it was on the xbox.

What's ironic is that the kiddies with their filthy mouths are the ones making xbox live so bad. I just play with chat muted these days.

Btw, the 360 is my favorite console.

[SuperPhillip]

I hear the "Xbox is for racist homophobes" way more than the "Wii is a kiddy console and/or has no games" argument.

Obviously your anecdotal evidence trumps mine, right? ;)

[depascal22]

Obviously your anecdotal evidence trumps mine, right? ;)

No. But it just shows how ridiculous it is to even bring it into this discussion.

Wii deals might get trolled but Xbox Live and/or PSN gets trolled in any sort of online or multiplayer discussion. Either way, trolls are out there for everything if you know how to find them.

confoosious, you just said you've never heard Xbox Live is full of racist homophobes and then you complain about filthy mouthed kids IN THE SAME POST....

[itachiitachi]

That isn't the 360, but the games you're playing. Quit playing Halo and Call of Duty. Those games seem to attact the dooshes.

Now if you play Catan, Carrasome, or CuldCept, you won't find people like that.
I think Halo and Call of Duty are what draw people to the system, I doubt anyone is getting the system for Catan, or Carcasone(epically since they are free on the PC)

[confoosious]

confoosious, you just said you've never heard Xbox Live is full of racist homophobes and then you complain about filthy mouthed kids IN THE SAME POST....

There's a difference. Xbox live is full of stupid filthy mouthed kids. But I've never heard someone troll the xbox because of that reason. You see the difference? Nobody goes "oh man the xbox sucks so hard cause xbla sucks." You know why? Cause anyone with half a brain can hit mute.

Meanwhile, so many morons trolls the Wii as "oh the wii sucks, it's a kiddie console." and ignore all the great adult games for it.

[depascal22]

There's a difference. Xbox live is full of stupid filthy mouthed kids. But I've never heard someone troll the xbox because of that reason. You see the difference? Nobody goes "oh man the xbox sucks so hard cause xbla sucks." You know why? Cause anyone with half a brain can hit mute.

Meanwhile, so many morons trolls the Wii as "oh the wii sucks, it's a kiddie console." and ignore all the great adult games for it.

I guess we're not reading the same threads because many people bag on the Xbox because of the users on Live.

[cheapasfudge]

I'm not really sure why the wii needed MORE marketing. It sold like gangbusters.

Maybe they should spend that marketing money on a few xbla execs and do their online right.

^ that!

it was ripping Sony Playstation a new one with much worse graphix etc.

[chimpmeister]

^ ... much worse graphix etc.

Yep I agree.

[confoosious]

I guess we're not reading the same threads because many people bag on the Xbox because of the users on Live.

we must not be. You'd have to be pretty damn stupid to bag on xbox because of xbla. It's the best online network out there. And that was even before PSN got hacked.


Yep I agree.

If I pay you, will you go away?