Reggie: not looking to replace Wii soon

By Oli Welsh Published 14 November, 2008

Not so keen on online gaming, either.

Speaking to Reuters at an investment conference, Nintendo front-man Reggie Fils-Aime downplayed the idea that Nintendo would release a new console soon.

"We believe the role of a new console, a new system, is to bring great new entertainment ideas to life. We launched [the Wii and DS] when we had great ideas that would benefit either from a touch screen or from a Wii remote," he said.

"We will consider the launch of new consoles when we have got great new entertaining ideas that can only be done with a new console.

"As we sit here today the Wii console has a long run ahead of it... So as we look at the near term for us its all about maximizing the opportunity with the [Wii and DS]."

Fils-Aime also rubbished the idea that boxed games were on the way out, to be replaced with online gaming and digital distribution.

"I don't buy some of the core propositions. We have seen with our own systems that the consumer wants an experience that today is better delivered via packaged content," he said.

"There can be add-ons and additional content but the sheer amount of entertainment enjoyment — 50, 60 hours - is pretty difficult to provide through an internet connection."

He agreed with other industry leaders that the outlook for Christmas sales was "cautiously optimistic" - but said that Nintendo's own outlook was "very optimistic". With Wii once again topping the American hardware sales charts by a huge margin in October, it's not hard to see why.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (22) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wadgem #1 3 years ago

    That bit about 50 to 60 hours of entertainment being hard to deliver via internet is utter PR cack. There's no limit to digital delivery, there is to physical delivery. He's only saying that because the Wii can't do it.
    Edited by 1 at 14/11/08 @ 08:44

  • Darren #2 3 years ago

    "Fils-Aime also rubbished the idea that boxed games were on the way out, to be replaced with online gaming and digital distribution."

    I like this guy... :)

    ... although more *decent* boxed Wii games in the first place would be very, very nice... you know so I have something new to actually *play*? ;)

  • bad09 #3 3 years ago

    "As we sit here today the Wii console has a long run ahead of it... So as we look at the near term for us its all about maximizing the opportunity with the [Wii and DS]."

    He is the right Wii isn't going away any time soon. Shame that...

    / bows, gets coat

  • BartonFink #4 3 years ago

    Fils-Aime also rubbished the idea that boxed games were on the way out, to be replaced with online gaming and digital distribution.

    "I don’t buy some of the core propositions. We have seen with our own systems that the consumer wants an experience that today is better delivered via packaged content," he said.

    Well he would say something like that considering how mediocre the Wii online system and complete lack of storage is wouldn't he.

  • Embra #5 3 years ago

    Have to say, I agree with Reggie. Seems to me that the only folks really pushing for 'virtual sales' are the games companies themselves, in their on-going efforts to shoot down the secondhand market. Guess they're hoping that if they keep telling us that it's what we want then we'll eventually believe them. Sad thing is, it'll likely work.

  • Xerx3s #6 3 years ago

    "We believe the role of a new console, a new system, is to bring great new entertainment ideas to life. We launched (the Wii and DS) those systems when we had great ideas that would benefit either from a touch screen or from a Wii remote,"

    I.o.w: We won't make a new device until this one stops making money. Which is never.

    "There can be add-ons and additional content but the sheer amount of entertainment enjoyment — 50, 60 hours - is pretty difficult to provide through an internet connection."

    Shivering Isles? At least a 150 hours of time spend there.

  • BartonFink #7 3 years ago

    50-60 hours entertainment in a Wii game, huh?
    Can I get what ever Regie is smoking :D

  • homerramone #8 3 years ago

    So I wonder what triffowhiz new gaming idea they were giving us when they replaced the N64 with Gamecube :-)

  • BartonFink #9 3 years ago

    Teeny weeny game discs?

  • Dan234 #10 3 years ago

    1. He'll launch a console when Japan says he will, bitch.
    2. "50, 60 hours - is pretty difficult to provide through an internet connection" - When you've only got servers that manage to cope with the load at 3am it is.

  • MaxiSleep #11 3 years ago

    Lolza

    The hatefull white box will continue unchanged so.

  • Doctor_What #12 3 years ago

    "We will consider the launch of new consoles when we have got great new entertaining ideas that can only be done with a new console."

    ... "In the meantime we'll just make a new peripheral for seemingly every first party title, and the ones that use the existing ones will be rubbish like Wii Music"

  • phoenixology #13 3 years ago

    I think digital delivery is the way forward and a way to stop game trade-ins at store (which is what the industry seems to hate at the moment as they don't make any money from it.

  • chrisjm #14 3 years ago

    they could of put the 5 minutes of entertainment of wii music as a download then

  • jamespo #15 3 years ago

    No mention of any actual games that are coming out for Xmas then?

    /looks at Wii release schedule

    /not surprised

  • insincere_dave #16 3 years ago

    " Good luck persuading your new audience to buy games in the recession Nintendo. "

    I know, I can't believe Nintendo think anyone are going to stay at home to conserve cash and will still require entertainment. Stupid Nintendo!

  • ED209 #17 3 years ago

    I've probably racked up more than 50-60 hours on Boom Blox.

    /wins thread.

  • sneetch #18 3 years ago

    "There can be add-ons and additional content but the sheer amount of entertainment enjoyment — 50, 60 hours - is pretty difficult to provide through an internet connection."

    You mean like any MMO? Or games on Steam? Or direct2drive or whatever other PC download service you want to mention? Nintendo man displays phenomenal lack of knowledge again shocker! We're talking about a couple of gigs here, just because the Nintendo network cannot support those kinds of downloads now doesn't make it "difficult", get a decent data centre to host some decent servers and - sha-bam! - not hard at all.

    Of course the real problem is that the Wii and DS cannot store those kind of games, so yeah, it would be very difficult.

    @Embra
    "Seems to me that the only folks really pushing for 'virtual sales' are the games companies themselves, in their on-going efforts to shoot down the secondhand market. Guess they're hoping that if they keep telling us that it's what we want then we'll eventually believe them."

    You're right there, but it has very little to do with what we want, it has to do with what we'll get: they (the games companies) will make the switch probably telling us how much we want it, regardless of how we actually feel and that'll be that. Lots of people will rail against it, many will say they're not going to buy the new PSWii360 because it's online only or whatever, some actually won't but most of us will, possibly grumbling as we go. That said, I personally prefer downloads to physical media, I have enough crap cluttering up my apartment as it is. :)
    Edited by 1 at 14/11/08 @ 17:10

  • smelly #19 3 years ago

    RE : Digital distribution - of course games companies are all for it.

    If I go into a games shop, I want to buy a brand new game - but no, the sales assistant will go out of his way to try to convince me to buy the 2nd hand one instead. The shop gets more money from the 2nd hand sale as none of it goes to the developer/publisher/console manufacturer.

    That's just plain wrong - as unlike (some occurrences of) piracy - that IS a lost sale..

    So, what are developers/publishers who have spent 2 to 3 years and 10s of millions of dollars making that game supposed to do to recoup their money? DRM like EA did with spore? Oh nope.. that was popular wasnt it? Or maybe - if fewer people are buying the game new, they shouldnt spend so much money on making the games in the first place? Maybe some casual mini game affair? etc etc!

    If you look at (for example) movie rentals - even that is going digital with the advent of netflix, etc etc. Personally I've not stepped foot in a movie rental store (blockbuster, etc) for ages - it's just too much hassle going out in the cold, driving to the store, etc. When all i have to do is press a button and its downloaded in the same time it wouldve taken for me to get to the store and back.

    If people are willing to download a movie - why not a game? (if the wii storage device was bloody big enough that is)


    Edited by 1 at 15/11/08 @ 19:15

  • David_Snakes #20 3 years ago

    The 50-60 hours not possible with a downloaded game comment is just begging a rebuttal. I'll say this, Team Fortress 2 downloaded off Steam. 174 hours played on it.

  • Nookyalar #21 3 years ago

    "The consumer wants an experience that today is better delivered via packaged content" - this will continue to be the case as long as the alternative is so badly executed!

  • robson_wii #22 3 years ago

    If games were designed properly then I think download would be a better option. Download the core engine and add map data as you go. Roughly 1 hour per GB of data on a 2Mb connection so keep the engine small! Can't download a wii wheel or balance board via the internet so still need physical product distribution in conjunction for peripherals.
    WiiWare and VC store work well but the size of games are tiny in comparison to epic titles on the DVDs. Wii storage limitations still haven't been addressed yet have they?