Reggie speaks on Wii

Nintendo of America‘s new president and chief operating officer Reginald Fils-Aime (known to gamers as Reggie) has spoken to USA Today on the upcoming Wii console, in particular why he believes Nintendo can retake top dog status in the billion dollar industry it helped create 20 years ago.

Reggie started off explaining why Nintendo have gone with such a different approach with their next generation console. Reggie said that Nintendo’s focus was interactive game play, a whole new way to play, that puts fun back into this business. Throwing a controller around the room in order to move is definitely something original and interactive. The design of the Wii is also to focus on gameplay, and not too heavily on graphics which some critics may argue Microsoft have done with their Xbox 360 console.

Here’s the interesting part: Reginald Fils-Aime on the Wii60. When presented with the question ‘people can buy an Xbox 360 and Wii for about the same price as a PlayStation 3. Would you mind terribly if that happened?’ Reggie replied: I’d much rather have the consumer buy a Wii, some accessories, and a ton of games, vs. buying any of my competitor’s products. Remember that, don’t go out and buy a Wii and a 360 – just get a Wii and loads of games! It doesn’t surprise me that this came from a Nintendo top dog, but at least he didn’t directly put down the Wii60 idea.

Reggie didn’t really comment on Nintendo’s online status, with them choosing to lie low on the matter. Reggie simply said that he wasn’t there at the time, instead boasting the DS’s free online gameplay which has been such as success with Ninty viewing online gaming as essentially an enhanced way to enjoy the gaming experience and drive more sales of hardware and software. The Wii will have integrated WiFi, so essentially you can plug and play without any additional extras or hidden charges.

Reggie didn’t slip up on any release date information or prices by saying that Nintendo are well on their way to sharing all of that information to retailers and our licensees, with information available publicly soon. Nintendo believe that they can reach the top spot again with the Wii with their goal to have as many teens and young adults as we have 40-plus-year-olds excited about the platform. To be honest, I can’t think of any other console past or present that has got me so intrigued!

Reggie ended the interview with a comment on the marketing strategies of Microsoft and Sony: “I think our two competitors will trade share between them, while we go off and grab share in a completely different way.”

Via USA Today

Nintendo of America‘s new president and chief operating officer Reginald Fils-Aime (known to gamers as Reggie) has spoken to USA Today on the upcoming Wii console, in particular why he believes Nintendo can retake top dog status in the billion dollar industry it helped create 20 years ago.

Reggie started off explaining why Nintendo have gone with such a different approach with their next generation console. Reggie said that Nintendo’s focus was interactive game play, a whole new way to play, that puts fun back into this business. Throwing a controller around the room in order to move is definitely something original and interactive. The design of the Wii is also to focus on gameplay, and not too heavily on graphics which some critics may argue Microsoft have done with their Xbox 360 console.

Here’s the interesting part: Reginald Fils-Aime on the Wii60. When presented with the question ‘people can buy an Xbox 360 and Wii for about the same price as a PlayStation 3. Would you mind terribly if that happened?’ Reggie replied: I’d much rather have the consumer buy a Wii, some accessories, and a ton of games, vs. buying any of my competitor’s products. Remember that, don’t go out and buy a Wii and a 360 – just get a Wii and loads of games! It doesn’t surprise me that this came from a Nintendo top dog, but at least he didn’t directly put down the Wii60 idea.

Reggie didn’t really comment on Nintendo’s online status, with them choosing to lie low on the matter. Reggie simply said that he wasn’t there at the time, instead boasting the DS’s free online gameplay which has been such as success with Ninty viewing online gaming as essentially an enhanced way to enjoy the gaming experience and drive more sales of hardware and software. The Wii will have integrated WiFi, so essentially you can plug and play without any additional extras or hidden charges.

Reggie didn’t slip up on any release date information or prices by saying that Nintendo are well on their way to sharing all of that information to retailers and our licensees, with information available publicly soon. Nintendo believe that they can reach the top spot again with the Wii with their goal to have as many teens and young adults as we have 40-plus-year-olds excited about the platform. To be honest, I can’t think of any other console past or present that has got me so intrigued!

Reggie ended the interview with a comment on the marketing strategies of Microsoft and Sony: “I think our two competitors will trade share between them, while we go off and grab share in a completely different way.”

Via USA Today