With Super Mario 3D World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds performing extremely well among the critics, Nintendo of America’s COO Reggie Fils-Aime has spoken to Forbes explaining exactly why the Wii U is the console to own this holiday season. In the interview, Reggie says that the key to the console’s success lies in its software, with additional features secondary to the cause. But when asked about going up against Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One and how consumers are driven to new products, Reggie didn’t shy away from the question, saying:
“That’s very true. But the interesting thing there is, if you look at the last two hardware cycles, it was not the most powerful machine that won, not in the case of the PS2, not in the case of the Wii. So, in the end, it’s our responsibility to show consumers how much fun you can have, because in the end, this is an entertainment business, and we think we’ve got stellar entertainment to make the consumer smile.”
Reggie also tackles questions about the Wii U’s mistaken perception amongst consumers that it’s just an upgraded system. But now he believes that the issue has largely been addressed by showing the unique capabilities of the GamePad with games such as Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and The Wonderful 101. Aside from these points, Reggie says the Wii U is about showing consumers how their individual experiences can be differentiated, highlighting that franchises such as Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong are a trump card for the company.
“It’s all about these great franchises. This is the place to get Mario, to get Zelda, to get Donkey Kong. And, we’ve got fantastic entertainment experiences. You can watch Netflix in HD, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu Plus. It’s all there. But what we do on top of that is, we’ve got Nintendo TV, that lets you sort out and decide what it is that you want to watch based on all of the different services you subscribe to. So our pitch is we’ve got unique differentiators, versus the “I do everything” positioning that our competitors might have.
“It’s tough to call a 10 million franchise a weakness. It’s something consumers have come to expect, have come to desire. It is an ace in our hand that we love to play. And it’s a differentiator. The point that I keep coming back to is show me the differentiated experiences. And differentiated experiences in this entertainment business win. We’re differentiated with the GamePad. We’re differentiated with these fantastic franchises. We’re differentiated even in the entertainment space with Nintendo TV. We believe those will drive our performance now and into the future.”
Sounds to me that Nintendo’s just LAZY.
I’d hardly call Nintendo lazy for trying to innovate and do something different.
It’s a gimmick, not innovation, to truly innovate you have to make a product that people would prefer to use over the old one, i don’t prefer the gamepad to the pro controller, also they themselves don’t know what to do with it, they just use it for the map or only in nintendoland asymmetric gameplay, nsmbu and mario 3d world don’t count, you could do that with the wii remote
I much prefer the gamepad, so they’ve innovated even by your twisted, fabricated definition. Not to mention the “Use the second screen as a Map” happened with the DS as well, interesting things don’t suddenly arise a year after release.
Stop being stupid.
I did find TW101’s use of the gamepad to be fantastically implemented. I also think that a new Okami game would work brilliantly on the system.
OKAMI! OKAMI!
Just gtfo before you get hurt. GIMMICK IS NOT A FUCKING BAD THING. Innovation and Gimmick are the same damn thing. Kinect is one, Its called a selling point.
Gimmick usually has a negative connotation, it implies that the product has no real value. Kinect and Gamepad are products I would definitely consider gimmicks, there haven’t really been many gameplay styles that take advantage of them in a way that’s still natural. Now maybe that could change as we see more games that make better use of them, but for right now, I wouldn’t say they’re innovative nor that they’re real selling points.
The Gamepad is just an option. People can always, for the most of games, use the traditional Pro Controller or Wiimote controlers. Its good to have options and not being stuck to just one method of input
This is missing the point of innovation. If it’s something that’s easily skippable, it’s not very useful, is it? If they want to be truly innovative, they have to develop something that would improve over current control schemes. The Gamepad looks like it can, but the existing games don’t show that, which is what’s sad about all of this. Also, the Gamepad has buttons anyway, so I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to use it over the Pro controller or Wiimote.
I bett you’re one of those types calling Wii Remote a gimmick also when in fact it changed gaming so much that competitors pathetically imitate it (PS Move)
Learn how to read a dictionary better before your next attempt to act smart in such retarded fashion.
Says the guy who probably agrees with Bushnell (Atari) and Rubin (THQ)’s “irrelevant” BS which did both of them in years ago.
Reggienator has spoken!!!
no
Get ur troll spray here!!!!You know they are coming!!!get ur trololololololol spray HERE!!!
Games are a pair of boobs.
Nintendo just wants to have fun and try new things with the boobs, while Microsoft and Sony fight over who’s boobs are better.
wow that’s actually a decent analogy
^THIS
great analogy
Best example ever told by anyone here. :3
The reason ps2 won was because it had the games and the reason wii won was because it was cheaper and had the revolutionary motion control and you could play tennis and now every one is fried on the motion controls so nintendo needs something new maybe a new franchise that would defiantly won nintendo some new fans
ps2 did receive the boost from DVD player.DVD players were not cheap awhile back. While its not big reasons, it still played a major role in its success. I enjoyed ps2 it had a great library. The wii was cheaper the others, offer something different and anyone could jump in and understand the game. wii also has good library of games to play
Actually DVD was the reason it won. People bough ps2 and never bought a game for it!
That’s the opposite of the fact. The games play a much bigger role than DVD play. It contributed PS2’s success but its not the sole reason for its success.
Well I have a PS4 now and if anything its made me realize how awesome the Wiiu and 3DS are even more than before.
It aint all about power, its about fun! and for me Nintendo is the best in that respect. The PS4 will come in very useful for me though so I can play certain games that may not be available on Nintendo platforms and future Sony exclusives.
cheesy as fuck
U mad Pinprick?
lol what a freak
I also have a PS4 and a WiiU, the only thing the WiiU is good for right now is for the internet, that thing is beast. Theres no online game community, no good games aside from mario rehash’s that everyone considers really good.
On the other hand the PS4 kicks ass so far compared to when the WiiU had just came out. Dat Battlefield 4 and Killzone 3, epic online gameplay, great games, and Uber great graphics.
Super Mario 3D world is NOT a relash. You’re failing to recognize the other games the Wii U has. Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros., Zelda, Splatoon, Donkey Kong Country, and many other games are way better than Battlefield 4 and Killzone 3, which were the same things as their predecessors. Besides, you’re just another PS4 fan boy who thinks power is the key to sales. I don’t know about you, but I’D buy a game based on how fun it looks, not how good the graphics look.
Says you.
That’s the only reason I’m going to buy a PS4. As of now, they don’t have enough innovative and fun-looking games to make me buy one. I got Assassin’s Creed and Super Mario 3D World for this Christmas, and Nintendo has a solid line-up for next year. If we don’t get the same drought without games as we had this year, I don’t see myself buying a PS4 until late 2014 or later.
And the 3DS and Wii U eShops are overflowing with great Indie games, so I will always have SOMETHING to play!
Indeed! I just got a ps4 because I could afford one. So might as well buy now for fun rather than later!
It’s pretty darn good! But like I said, if anything it has just reassured me how much I love my Wiiu and 3DS
About the same with me, although i’ll have an Xbox One as well.
Still wouldn’t recommend a WiiU (or any “new” console, except for 3DS yet).
By next gen, i certainly would, right now, Mario, Pikmin and Wonderful 101 are the most significant releases, and their replay value isn’t the same as Mario Kart or Smash.
Tough first year, but still, first year, 3DS and PS3 had pretty bad first years, it just happens, wait till end of next year before any real judgement is made. Honestly if they released the WiiU around this time, with all the stuff they have, they probably would’ve been fine.
Nintendward wrote:
“Well I have a PS4 now and if anything its made me realize how awesome the Wiiu and 3DS are even more than before.
It aint all about power, its about fun! and for me Nintendo is the best in that respect. The PS4 will come in very useful for me though so I can play certain games that may not be available on Nintendo platforms and future Sony exclusives.”
Quite right too. You clearly understand why we play games. It’s got nothing to do with power. Wii U can play anything as long as the engines are designed properly. I’ve been playing Darksiders 2 on mine and love being able to switch from the inventory to the map, just like that. I don’t see Xbox One or PS4 being able to do that.
Im glad people are playing Darksiders 2, it’s a great game.
Curious how much having the menu and map on the gamepad saves time and makes things quicker and more enjoyable, on the other versions, you end up pressing start and select ALOT haha
That my friend TheDragon24, it was is called innovation, moving on and above all, convenience.
Good thing you got the ps4 because 90 percent of the next gen games won’t come to wii u. Wii u is not even worth as a full console brand, it’s only worth for the best Nintendo IP’s.
I hope nintendo is the future of the gaming industry, because sony and microsoft only want money. Nintendo also wants good games and innovation. The proof for that is that they are trying to innovate in many ways, this damages the income of the company for sure. But nintendo still believes in the consumers. Not everyone likes their innovations but without nintendo it just wouldn’t be fun. (If you wanna flame this, go back to your stupid friends on Call of duty and piss them off, thank you :P)
Take my cookies, good sir!
nintendo makes more profit than both … they never had lowered the price of their 1st party titles…..y???? they need da $$$$ i like nintendo, but at times they piss me off
You deserve a damn metal for that man. :) “Metal of Gaming” in fact.
Just DK, Mario, and Zelda? What about Starfox, 1080, SSB, Mario Kart, Metroid, Kid Icarus, Kirby, Yoshi, Wario, Earthbound, Animal Crossing, Waverace, Luigi’s Mansion, Punchout, The Iceclimbers, Pokemon, Golden Sun, Duckhunt lol, Xenoblade, F-Zero,Pikmin, and Fire Emblem?
Reblogged this on Blog of an e-marketer by Main Uddin.
Pingback: Nintenderos.com – Wii U, Wii y Nintendo 3DS | Reggie Fils-Aime habla de Wii U respecto a la competencia
Fine with that, long as you just keep putting software, im good.
3D World is a good start to some, although i don’t think it’s that good, it’s great, but..not Galaxy or 64 good.
he sure can talk the talk, but when it comes to delivery that’s a different story. they seem to still have the mentality they had with the wii. this company is slowly dragging itself down with each new gen. “innovation” and the same rubbed out franchises aren’t going to carry them forever. they definitely need new management.
RIGHT WITH YOU BUDDY. FUCK THE WEAK U. ALL THESE DRONES ARE FUCKING PUSSY. ACT LIKE WEAK U IS THEY MAMMA N SHIT. AHAHAHAHAH! FUCKIN PUUUUUSSSSSSIIIIEESSSSSSSS!
Troll alert over here.
*looks at 3DS*
You sure about that?
very sure.
LMAO AT THE WEAK U. YoU GUYS ARE SUCH FUCKING LOSERS. BUY A REAL MACHINE. A PC. YOU GUYS ARE STILL USING 8BIT? AHAHAHAHAHAHAH! WHAT FAILURES. SOCIAL REJECTS. GO SUCK YO DADDYS DICKS. GO AHEAD! DAMAGE CONTROLLLLLLLL!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAAH! BANG BANG MOTHER FUCKHEADS!
Shut up.
PC Fanboys is Cancer of Gaming
Couldn’t agree more
yes it is PC Fanboys are Cancer of Gaming
The virginity is strong in this one…
…honestly, there’s no saving for this poor ass soul. Let it make a complete ass of himself since he should know his BS isn’t working.
Actually, what Reggie was talking about is true of all console generations, not just the last couple.
The NES came out on top despite being technically inferior to the Sega Master System and Turbografx-16.
The Genesis was on top for the first couple of years of the technically superior SNES’s life, but as they added the CD-ROM system and 32X, Sega fell behind with each technical advance.
The PlayStation was less powerful than a Nintendo 64, and we all know how THAT came out.
And finally, as Reggie pointed out, the PS2 was less powerful than the GameCube, and we all know how THAT came out!
When it comes to consoles? Always, always, always bet on the slowest horse!
That’s because power has got NOTHING to do with a consoles sales. It ALL about the GAMES. Wii U has GOT AMAZING games, PS4 and X1 haven’t really got anything that BLOWS anything out of the water.
He’s not wrong though, high-end gaming PC’s are more powerful than Wii U’s. So what though. I can still play my old NES or SNES carts, or anything virtual console, and have as much fun as he does with whatever cutting edge titles he plays on his PC. Not everything is about graphics. Frankly I’d rather play on a Wii U over a PC any day because the software appeals to me more.
You tell’ em Reggie!
Power has nothing to do with sales, but it doesn’t mean that if you make your system underpowered it will then ship more units, it’s just ridiculous and that’s what nintendo did with WiiU, they think they will make underpowered console, and it will sell just like the Wii, it’s not even as cheap as back when Wii launched.
Despite that, the console is not that weak to be honest, and they will be able to show some beautiful games on it, with worse textures than on ps4, but they will still be beautiful, if people actually want them.
Gamepad is great but its a matter of opinion, some people hate it.
The original Wii didn’t win anything it just sold the most. Certain people like to make the claim that it’s always the weaker system that wins the “battle” but the weaker systems in the past didn’t win because they were less powerful than their competition but because they had the most great games (excluding the Wii).
“Reggie also tackles questions about the Wii U’s mistaken perception amongst consumers that it’s just an upgraded system.”
And yet one of the most recent commercials for the system defines it as “a total upgrade.”
You didn’t win because of less power. You won because the Wii was the first time people were introduced to a full motion control console. It was unique. PS2 won because of its large library of great games. Just make some great games for the Wii U and that’s how you can win. However, imagine a Nintendo console that’s as powerful as it’s competitors? That would be awesome.
He didn’t say the Wii won BECAUSE it had less power. That wouldn’t be the case at all. The Wii won, as you said, because of the motion control. The Wii wasn’t the most powerful console, however, and it still “won.”
Oh ok I get it.
Wait so you mean every Nintendo console until the Wii? Those where in fact, more powerful. All of them, from NES to GameCube.
No Reggie, the Wii U hasn’t differentiated itself, not yet. Pikmin and Wonderful 101 is nice and all, but people are going to look more at stuff like NSMBU, 3D World, Tropical Freeze, MK8, and Smash Bros for what defines the Wii U. And those games (aside from Smash Bros which we know little about at this point) aren’t really doing anything unique or innovative with the Gamepad to justify having it. Those games aren’t differentiated experiences in the slightest, they’re rehashes of games we’ve seen about 2-3 years ago.
Video games are visual experiences. You will no longer attract consumers if you can not win the graphics battle. It has become a standard like HD, no one is going to buy an SD TV in this era, they want HD TV, it’s the same with video games.
That’s pretty much what I say about Wii U, the PS4 and XBox One are pretty much PCs or while the Wii U does what PCs can’t, plus exclusives. As far as if you have to choose one console, the Wii U is the only true gaming console out there right now, because you can do everything PS4 and Xbox One can do with a PC, or whatever, but you can’t do what Wii U does.
People who call the Wii U an innovative console are nothing but fanboys. First, Wii U didn’t offer anything new. That dual screen experience has been done with the ds already. Also the remoteplay was done with the original psp and ps3 way before the wii u wasn’t even announce. Second, Almost everyone hates the gamepad, it’s way too bulky and big, also that dual screen experience is a fail because it’s separated, when you play on the tv, you want to focus on it not keep looking down on your gamepad, it gives gamer a headache.
Sounds like you’re pretty much a fanboy yourself stating what we been hearing for years that’s still disproven. I bet everything I have, know and love that you’re never touched a single Nintendo console in your life and insisting that graphics are everything in gaming.
You poor deluded ass fool.
I’m a Nintendo fan and I agree with him. There’s not much the Wii U is doing ATM that could be considered “innovative”, the bulk of its lineup is turning out to be rehashes of games on the Wii and 3DS and not really using the Gamepad in any interesting ways. I want to see something new, not the same thing I played 2 or 3 years ago. Now does this mean it’s not possible to innovate with the Wii U? Certainly not, we’ve seen games that can (Zombi U is one, I’ve also heard Pikmin 3 and Wonderful 101 are as well), but Nintendo isn’t really taking advantage of what the Gamepad has to offer, so it’s ending up useless for most of their games.
Pingback: Reggie Fils-Aime explica las razones por las que Wii U es único respecto a la competencia | Atomix
getting sick here a little had to buy a wii for zelda and a ds for pokemon and now i haves to buy a 3ds or 2ds for pokemon x and a wii u for just zelda again…
I’m actually purchasing a Wii U on friday. I think the game that would save them would be a Pokemon XD ish game. With a 3DS/DS player kind of contraption. It’s their own fault I’ve enjoyed Nintendo for a long time but they really do need to step their game up.