Reggie Fils-Aime Interview

[bapenguin]

Engadget (http://www.engadget.com) has an interview up (http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/20/the-engadget-interview-reggie-fils-aime-executive-vice-preside/) with Nintendo Executive Vice President Regiie Fils-Aime. Among things covered are the Revolution and backwards compatibility, Nintendo's competitors and their goals as well as the new DS and the possibility for a 3rd iteration of the DS.

Does that mean we could probably expect a third iteration of the DS about 18 months from now?

I wouldn’t say that that’s an unreasonable assumption. Look at how many times we’ve improved on the Game Boy Advance in terms of the look, the feel, screen changes, and everything else. We believe that type of constant innovation is critical to driving this industry, and certainly if you look at the world wide sales of Game Boy Advance, I don’t think anyone would disagree.
Boy...I sure could use some cookies right now.

[bapenguin]

The stuff with the Revolution sounds great. It's good to hear so many dev kits are out there. E3 should be huge for Nintendo.

His views of MS and Sony are pretty spot on I think. Each company as an over-lying objective of some other product in the company while Nintendo only has one product/market in sight.

[Blade]

I don't mind the new iterations of DS/GBA/etc. I'll upgrade if it's worth the while, which is usually when there's a clear advantage to spending more dough on the same hardware.

Last time I upgraded was GBA to SP, and there were plenty of reasons to do that.

Rechargeable battery with stronger life, frontlight, better/smaller design.

[Dr Quincy]

I have played with a 360. Honestly, I was underwhelmed. And let me be clear: I played with pre-production units at last year’s E3 as well as at other industry events, I’ve played with production product, and while certainly some games look fantastic, I found the game play for many of the titles lacking. And so for me it was not something that held my interest for very long.

Right on the money!

So far "Codename: Revolution" is the only platform realistically offering next generation gameplay and not just glossy graphics from launch.

[EternalGamer]

Zelda certainly will be the biggest and best title ever for GameCube. And we will market it as such and we know the consumers won’t be disappointed.

Well, all of the GameCube games will be compatible only with GameCube accessories, so whether it’s a WaveBird or whether it’s a wired controller, you’ll only be able to play those titles with those accessories. Essentially what we’re saying is that Revolution titles are the only ones that will leverage the new controller.

Well, suck. There goes my dreams of slaying goblins via the Revmote. It seemed to me like a very smart thing to tie the new Zelda to the Revolution, but it seems it is not to be. I hope Nintendo has something REALLY cool up their sleeves then, because I can't imagine what would be better than launching their new franchise tethered to one of the most critically and commercially acclaimed series of all time.

Dan

[Syl]

I have to admit, Reggie is definately one of the best public relation moves that nintendo has made.

As for nintendo themselves, well, i'm pretty much a whore to almost anything involving their name.

[Draft]

So far "Codename: Revolution" is the only platform realistically offering next generation gameplay and not just glossy graphics from launch.First of all, you have not played any revolution games. No one has played any revolution games. How do you KNOW there's anything "next generation" about them?

Second, and oh boy this one still gets me, how is swapping a dpad for a remote control "next generation." I mean SHIT, goddamn, who would have thunk the one thing holding us back these 20 odd years was the GAMEPAD! That SNEAKY BITCH!

[bean19]

I like hearing about the Revolution, but I sure am tired of this guy.

[outontheporch]

Reggie Saves

[Megalith]

I think this guy should be shot, and replaced with Miyamoto in a Link costume speaking Engrish.

[Royal Fool]

First of all, you have not played any revolution games. No one has played any revolution games. How do you KNOW there's anything "next generation" about them?

Second, and oh boy this one still gets me, how is swapping a dpad for a remote control "next generation." I mean SHIT, goddamn, who would have thunk the one thing holding us back these 20 odd years was the GAMEPAD! That SNEAKY BITCH!

The possibilities for applying the Rev controller to games are immense. The question remains whether developers will actually try doing new things with it.

But maybe you're right. Perhaps freeform control in 3D space isn't better than just pushing a stick.

I'm gonna go get some cookies like bapenguin.

[bapenguin]

Right on the money!

So far "Codename: Revolution" is the only platform realistically offering next something outside the box and not just glossy graphics from launch.

I fixed that for you. I'm really getting sick of hearing the term next gen.

[Draft]

Perhaps freeform control in 3D space isn't better than just pushing a stick.That's right, perhaps it isn't.

[Snoy Cracken]

Second, and oh boy this one still gets me, how is swapping a dpad for a remote control "next generation." I mean SHIT, goddamn, who would have thunk the one thing holding us back these 20 odd years was the GAMEPAD! That SNEAKY BITCH!
I think that the contoller could quite possibly be what defines next gen. I mean if you had told people 10 years ago that a little joystick for your thumb would change the way we play games they probably would of laughed, and yet that more than anything I think is what made the N64 "next-gen" when it got out.

[Anju]

First of all, you have not played any revolution games. No one has played any revolution games. How do you KNOW there's anything "next generation" about them?

Second, and oh boy this one still gets me, how is swapping a dpad for a remote control "next generation." I mean SHIT, goddamn, who would have thunk the one thing holding us back these 20 odd years was the GAMEPAD! That SNEAKY BITCH!

But that's exactly the thing that Nintendo is saying. It IS the gamepad that's holding back gaming these days. By changing the player's input, you change everything. And I seriously don't understand this whole argument people always spout of having not played a Revolution game, expecting Nintendo's games to be good, yet so easily expect the next Playstation brand to kick ass.

Hypocrisy at it's finest, ain't it.

[Anju]

And it figures, once I write in a reply someone else answers it in the time I type it. :)

[Megalith]

What's holding gaming back is shoddy hardware.

Kind of like the PS2.

[Everlost_MI]

Hey! All this talk about cookies has sidetracked my original thought for a post.

What kind of cookies are we talking about here?

Oh right, back on topic...
Speaking of GameCube, if you play a GameCube game on the new Revolution console, will you be able to use the Revolution controller or will you have to use the older style of controller?

Well, all of the GameCube games will be compatible only with GameCube accessories, so whether it’s a WaveBird or whether it’s a wired controller, you’ll only be able to play those titles with those accessories. Essentially what we’re saying is that Revolution titles are the only ones that will leverage the new controller.
This is news to me, I hadn't heard that the hardware from the 'cube will work on the Revolution.

[gzsfrk]

The thing to keep in mind is, fanboyism aside, there's several areas in which next-gen innovations can occur (and I certainly won't list them ALL here). But it seems me to be currently breaking down along these lines:

- Nintendo -
With the Revolution, that innovation is expected to occur most notably at the level of user input. This seems natural--Nintendo has been leading in this area for some time, first with the NES cross directional control scheme, then the SNES L&R shoulder buttons, on to the N64 analog stick, then the GameCube initially didn't do much that was very different until the bongo controller came out, which (while extremely innovative in its use in the Jungle Beat game) turned out to be rather gimmicky. Most recently, of course, we've seen excellent and creative control implementations with the DS touch-screen/d-pad combo. And lest I forget, I would also point out that while it wasn't for everyone, the GB/GBA had some great innovations in the way of the tilt-sensor games (I loved WarioWare Twisted!) and the day/night sensor they included in at least one RPG I can't remember off hand. So to summarize, while some of Nintendo's control innovations have been hit or miss, they're pretty much categorically at the forefront of trying new things along control lines. (Yes, I know the DDR pad wasn't Ninty's doing.)

- Xbox 360 -
The 360 seems to be leveraging its competitive advantage from the previous generation, namely, its fantastic Xbox Live service. Complaints about monthly fees aside (C'mon--$4.16 a month too much for you? Eat at Taco Bell one less time a month; tis healthier anyway), there's really little negative to be said about Live. And with the newest incarnation, it seems to only be getting better. Not only does the service function as a portal for the facilitation of multiplayer games, it acts as an integrator of most/all X360 games with its messaging/chat/music management features, AND it serves as a fantastic content delivery mechanism. So while Sony has promised HUB as a worthy competitor to Live (and Nintendo has stated that it plans to go with the "friend codes" approach on the Revolution like it has on the DS thus far, and thus is mostly a non-competitor to Live), it's very likely that MS will still reign supreme in the online arena for the time being. And, with the avenue of delivery for small developers through Live Arcade to get their products before a much greater audience than they would have access to via traditional means (box, web, etc.), who can deny the potential for the 360 to see some truly innovative gameplay and ideas made available to the mainstream gaming public? (Geometry Wars, Marble Blast, et. al.)

- PS3 -
I really don't know much what to write about where the PS3 is going to be particularly innovative, because so much is still up in the air. But the vibe seems to be that the PS3 has the best shot among all the next-gen consoles of finally attaining that holy grail of becoming the central component in the modern media center (jokes about aging video like a "fine wine" notwithstanding). Should Sony be able to live up to their stated aspirations for the PS3 (while staying within a reasonable price range), the same strategy that sold countless PS2s as cheap, dual function DVD players could once again work to move their latest star product into homes at an alarming rate.


So in short, in my opinion it's really invalid to say "<Company X> is the only one still innovating!" I think each console will innovate in their own ways. We just needn't fall into the rut of thinking innovation is only defined via control schemes, graphical prowess, gameplay mechanics, or whatever. There's room to innovate all over the place; we just have to sit back and see who finds the sweet spots that move cash from our wallets. :)

Cheers...

[Draft]

So in short, in my opinion it's really invalid to say "<Company X> is the only one still innovating!" I think each console will innovate in their own ways. We just needn't fall into the rut of thinking innovation is only defined via control schemes, graphical prowess, gameplay mechanics, or whatever. There's room to innovate all over the place; we just have to sit back and see who finds the sweet spots that move cash from our wallets. :)

Cheers...Thank you for that insightful, well thought out post.

[Doctor Setebos]

This is news to me, I hadn't heard that the hardware from the 'cube will work on the Revolution.IIRC, back at E3 Nintendo said the Rev will have ports on the side for GameCube controllers.

[TheBrainKills]

....

Second, and oh boy this one still gets me, how is swapping a dpad for a remote control "next generation." I mean SHIT, goddamn, who would have thunk the one thing holding us back these 20 odd years was the GAMEPAD! That SNEAKY BITCH!

You are so dramatic.

Wouldn't you say that the introduction of the mouse to computers has done what you are suggesting couldn't be done, ie.. a new way to interface with something.

[MosBen]

I certainly don't appreciate the constant remarketing of the GBA. I gave them plenty of money for the GBA when it came out, and it was a broken product. Then they decided to fix the problems and put out the SP, which I bought. Then they released several other versions of basically the same hardware with a series of tweaks which were all useful, but not worth constantly spending money on new versions of old products.

Much as I like their games, I've come to see Nintendo as the champion of selling you the same thing five times.

[Megalith]

The GBA was a broken product?

[Dr Quincy]

I fixed that for you. I'm really getting sick of hearing the term next gen.

Okay, in which case the Revolution would appear to be the only console offering a progressive approach to gaming in the next cycle. Progressive does not mean tarted up graphics or embracing television technologies only the super-rich can currently afford.

[Royal Fool]

Well, not exactly broken, but the lack of backlighting was rather horrible. Mobile phones already had backlighting, why couldn't the GBA have it?

[Megalith]

The reason lies here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GUG21OyNNk

[jacktion]

I love Reggie. I wish he was my dad.

and I also want some cookies.

[Kefkataran]

Well, suck. There goes my dreams of slaying goblins via the Revmote. It seemed to me like a very smart thing to tie the new Zelda to the Revolution, but it seems it is not to be. I hope Nintendo has something REALLY cool up their sleeves then, because I can't imagine what would be better than launching their new franchise tethered to one of the most critically and commercially acclaimed series of all time.

You know they'll get a Zelda game out for the Revolution eventually. No worries, your dream is far from dead.

Reggie's a cool guy. Revolution sounds exciting. Here's hoping it lives up to even some of the hype. Etc.

[TrackZero]

This is news to me, I hadn't heard that the hardware from the 'cube will work on the Revolution.

You're....serious? Dude, the first shots released at E3 last year specifically show gamecube controller ports all along the side of the unit. It was annonunced wayback. ;)

[Draft]

The reason lies here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GUG21OyNNkHahaha, that's hilarious.

[TrackZero]

Much as I like their games, I've come to see Nintendo as the champion of selling you the same thing five times.

Not to mention when they bring out an add-on that is immediately ruined because the console is remade and it's no longer compatible.

Remember the e-reader? That thing that didn't fit on your GBA SP, only the original GBA? Boy, did that crash and burn fast.

[TrackZero]

Now since Reggie had mentioned in that other video that there's a surprise in the new Zelda for Rev owners, and now in this one he says it's not a change in the controls, it's not a far guess to assume he means that it'll have improved graphics on the Revolution.

[devicelimit]

You would be able to play Zelda on the Revolution because of the backwards compatability, but maybe full fledged revolution functionality wouldn't be in the game.

[MosBen]

"Broken" is probably overstating the case a bit, though I seem to remember Tycho using it at some point, but it was certainly heavily flawed. Without a backlight it was incredibly difficult to use under any by the most optimal lighting conditions. The bottom line is that the thing should have had a backlight to begin with, but instead they just released the product a second time and got double money out of a lot of people. Maker of good games or no, milking people like that is a dick move. Good business? Sure, but a dick move nonetheless.

[Mason]

First of all, you have not played any revolution games. No one has played any revolution games. How do you KNOW there's anything "next generation" about them?
But talking about innovation is the same thing as producing something innovative, right?

[Mason]

His specific answer on the LZ:TP controller thing was just weird. I mean, I can dig not swishing the Rev controller around for a GC game, but it still has the same pads, sticks, and buttons as the GC controller, and it's really hard to accept that they need GC controllers to play it on your Rev. Something stinks here.

That isn't a very reassuring answer, but it was definite and unambiguous.

[bean19]

Here is the thing guys:

If the controller is kick ass, it will be easy to make controllers for the other systems that use the technology.

Then they could just port the games over as Xbox Live Arcade games.

[bean19]

I think this guy should be shot, and replaced with Miyamoto in a Link costume speaking Engrish.

Hilarious.

[Opty]

Remember the e-reader? That thing that didn't fit on your GBA SP, only the original GBA? Boy, did that crash and burn fast.

It totally fits on the GBA SP and the Micro as well. The link cable extenter doesn't go into the link cable slot anymore, but that doesn't matter because all it was there for was to extend the link cable slot to the external part of the e-reader so the link cable could still be used with the e-reader in on the original GBA.

[31 Flavas]

"Broken" is probably overstating the case a bit, though I seem to remember Tycho using it at some point, but it was certainly heavily flawed. Without a backlight it was incredibly difficult to use under any by the most optimal lighting conditions.Oh please, there were any number of lighting attachments to solve this malady. From a simple worm light to the "Afterburner" internal light mod. I had one in between, picked it up at GameStop ($15), it was a mini-floresent that gave good light and folded down to double as a screen protector. Moreover though, the GBA and frontlit SP remain playable in heavily lit environments like outside, on a bus, on a train, passenger seat of a car). Where the DS, backlit SP, Micro, and i'd assume PSP, are all unviewable. Even my laptops beautiful and highly backlit wide 17" 1920x1200 screen is unreadable in daylight.

The bottom line is that the thing should have had a backlight to begin with, but instead they just released the product a second time and got double money out of a lot of people.I hate to repeat myself, but, Oh please.... We saw this with the GameGear, Lynx, and Nomad, it just made the systems eat batteries, have a high price tag, and be physically large. Honestly, i'll find my own inexpensive lighting solution rather then accept thoes critical system problems, but have backlighting. Since then prices have come down, circuts use less power, and have been miniatureized, so now you have the front and backlit SP as well as Micro and DS. So for the year that the GBA was released in, i'll agrue it was perfectly fine.

Maker of good games or no, milking people like that is a dick move. Good business? Sure, but a dick move nonetheless.I don't know about you, but i'd rather "want" to buy the $99 upgrade system because of lighting, miniaturizing, new styling, etc... versus having a critical need ala self-destructing $300 Sony Playstations.

[jacktion]

I certainly don't appreciate the constant remarketing of the GBA. I gave them plenty of money for the GBA when it came out, and it was a broken product. Then they decided to fix the problems and put out the SP, which I bought. Then they released several other versions of basically the same hardware with a series of tweaks which were all useful, but not worth constantly spending money on new versions of old products.

Much as I like their games, I've come to see Nintendo as the champion of selling you the same thing five times.


I hear you. This is a common viewpoint. But do you think people's hostility towards this constant upgrade cycle is only because they want to have them all? And they feel forced into spending money? You don't have to buy every version. You are just choosing to. You could wait and just choose a new version now and again that have major improvements that you want.
Personally I like Nintendo constantly bringing out cool new versions. It is not only good business but it gives me more choices of what to buy. I can choose the one version that is really great and leave the others to other people.

[thecrazyd]

Here is the thing guys:

If the controller is kick ass, it will be easy to make controllers for the other systems that use the technology.

Then they could just port the games over as Xbox Live Arcade games.
Except, as a peripheral instead of the main control method, very few games would use it. Why shoot for an install base of a couple thousand when you can go for an install base of several million?

[Nessus]

Nintendo is hardly the only one guilty of hardware revisions.

There were alternate models of the Genesis, Sega CD, 32X, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2 consoles.

Out of all of Nintendo's hardware revisions the only one that sorta irritated me was from GBA to GBA SP, mainly because I bought my GBA a few months before they announced the SP. Then I made the mistake of not taking EB up on their offer of like $100 off if you trade in your GBA towards an SP.

As far as the DS revision, I like it and I'll most likely get it and give my current DS to my girlfriend. Beyond that though, no one's forcing you to buy a DS Lite. It's merely another option. Personally I like having options.

Oh and what I wouldn't give to get me an NES 2, the revision they made after the SNES came out. The PS3 reminds me of the NES 2 in design so much. Not entirely sure why.

[Royal Fool]

Besides, we keep seeing hardware revisions of mobile phones, audio players and more. Yes, they get released again at full price with "tweaks" and new features, but that's just the way the retail business works.

[Kamalot]

Gawd! Sunbeam just came out with a new toaster! Now I gotta go get it. I HATE how companies keep making new crap that does the same stuff as the crap I already have!

Sheesh!

[TKO]

Here is the thing guys:

If the controller is kick ass, it will be easy to make controllers for the other systems that use the technology.

Then they could just port the games over as Xbox Live Arcade games.
Yeah, but it's not like dual-shock where you can just add a couple of analogue nipples and hey-presto: the innovation of your competition is instantly integrated without sacrificing the original control-scheme. You can't just add the wand to existing controllers, so you can't make it the new default, so you can't *really* get behind it without dumping the current control-scheme. ..can you seem MS or Sony ever doing that part way through this generation? Coz I can't. (especially if they have to pay huge royalties to Nintendo too) :D

And in that case, all the non-Nintendo guys are ever going to have is an add-on that will probably be supported about as well as the PS2 hard-drive. The games will look prettier, but the gameplay method stagnates. (and, for FPS's, the control-scheme is still hard for yer average gamer to pick up.)

IMHO, with the popularity of the first-person viewpoint in gaming, this controller could raise interest in the Revolution more than the stylus on the DS. ..I'd like them to stick with the Revolution name tho, it just sounds 'right'. :)

[TKO]

Much as I like their games, I've come to see Nintendo as the champion of selling you the same thing five times.

If they somehow stopped you from selling the old hardware, I could see how you could be pissed. But I mean, c'mon! Just sell the old one and get the new one. Stop yer whining. Improvement is good. (It is only now, with the GBA micro, that I'm considering getting one. True portability, yeah.) :D

[Everlost_MI]

IIRC, back at E3 Nintendo said the Rev will have ports on the side for GameCube controllers.

You're....serious? Dude, the first shots released at E3 last year specifically show gamecube controller ports all along the side of the unit. It was annonunced wayback. ;)

Thanks guys, must have missed it. :) But now I am up to speed. So where are those damn cookies!?

[Achilles]

Okay, in which case the Revolution would appear to be the only console offering a progressive approach to gaming in the next cycle. Progressive does not mean tarted up graphics or embracing television technologies only the super-rich can currently afford.I'm not super rich, very far from it and I bought a damn fine TV. If you make a couple thousand a month you can afford one of those things. And it was a disappointment when Nintendo announced that the Revo would be running in 4:3 on it.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I'm not super rich, very far from it and I bought a damn fine TV. If you make a couple thousand a month you can afford one of those things. And it was a disappointment when Nintendo announced that the Revo would be running in 4:3 on it.

To the majority of the world (myself included) a "couple thousand" a month qualifies as super rich. :p


I really enjoyed this interview - Reggie is one of the few PR people I can listen to without rolling my eyes or puking. He leaves out a lot of the BS and just tells it like it is. He doesn't bash MS or Sony, he just points out the way they are doing things and says why he disagrees with that. I wish all business people could be this way.

I always enjoy seeing the anti-Nintendo trolls out in full force. They must just love trampling on the joys of others. :rolleyes:

[Achilles]

To the majority of the world (myself included) a "couple thousand" a month qualifies as super rich. :pDude! That's only 24k a year (~12 an hour)! You really need to get a better job, I think we've been over this before :p

[MosBen]

Wow, thanks for the responses guys. Look, true as it may be that in other industries they release countless revisions products with little or no changes all the time, but that's really not the standard in the console world. As far as I can remember, home consoles usually get one redesign which is almost exclusively a size reduction. I feel like releasing the same old product with cool new features is not standard practice.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Dude! That's only 24k a year (~12 an hour)! You really need to get a better job, I think we've been over this before :p



You have a point. It isn't really a lot of money in America. In many parts of the world it would be a fortune though. You are right in that I need a better job. I'm making $7 an hour right now. :(

[Megalith]

Wait, the Revolution runs in 480p but is limited to 4:3?

Joke time.

[Achilles]

You have a point. It isn't really a lot of money in America. In many parts of the world it would be a fortune though. You are right in that I need a better job. I'm making $7 an hour right now. :(I was in that situation a few years ago, ate raman and rice, had a $3000 TV, every game system, a computer with a DSL, no car, and slept on an air mattress. It's all about priorities man! ;)

[Kamalot]

Wait, the Revolution runs in 480p but is limited to 4:3?Many GameCube games run in widescreen mode in 480p. Super Mario Strikers, F-Zero, StarFox Adventures, even all the way back to Eternal Darkness. I'm sure there are others, those are simply the ones that come to mind.

I've been running in 480p since the get-go. Most of the GameCube games run in 480p. I display them on a projector screen and stretch to widescreen if available.

[Nite_Moogle]

Going from the GBA to the GBA SP was like discovering that microwaving hot pockets before eating them was a good idea. If Nintendo can keep improving like that on the DS, I'll buy another iteration in a heartbeat.

[Stormwatcher]

People who complain of how we can't like the Revolution yet because we didn't try it, or that the new control interface is no big deal are blind. Or Stupid. Or both.

We already have a 2D version of the Revolution.... It is called Nintendo DS. and It REALLY rocks. Games like Ouendan, Nintendogs, Meteos and TraumaCenter are proof that a revolutionary control interface can indeed give us a new and very good gaming experience... that is not just a Gimmick. you just need to have the balls to make it a core feature. Otherwise it will be a novelty to be forgotten... The DS also has good "traditional" games like Castlevania DS (very small use of the touch feature, but a very good game anyway), Mario Kart DS, etc.

Other people have pointed how silly the "ZOMG they r releasing the DS/GBA/Whatever again" people. Nokia and Motorola release several new cell phones with no new features all the time. You don't HAVE to buy the new DS.

And Reggie really gives Moore and Kutaragi a run for their money. He is really good. And he really nailed Sony and MS very well.

I like the stuff that Sony and MS make. The PS2 is really a MUST-HAVE console, the Xbox rules supreme the online arena. But Nintendo is THE game maker. They make games. and nothing more. And that is why I like it so much, warths and all.