Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has blamed gamers for their recent dislike of Nintendo’s announcements, calling fans “insatiable” (again) and suggesting they have no ability to discern between the amazing and the mediocre. Ouch.
“One of the things that, on one hand, I love and, on the other hand, that troubles tremendously about not only our fanbase but the gaming community at large is that, whenever you show information, the perspective is: ‘Thank you, but I want more. Thank you, but give me more’,” he toldKongtractor. “I mean, it is insatiable.
“For years this community has been asking, ‘Where’sPikmin? Where’sPikmin? Where’sPikmin?’ We give themPikmin. And then they say: ‘What else?’ For years this community has said: ‘Dammit Reggie, when you launch, you better launch with aMariogame’. So we launch with aMariogame, and they say, ‘So, what’s more?’
“I have heard people say, ‘You know, you’ve got these fantastic franchises,” he continued. “Beyond what you’re doing inSmash Bros, isn’t there a way to leverage all these franchises?’ So we createNintendo Landand they say: ‘Ho-hum. Give me more’. It’s an interesting challenge.”
Reggie can’t grasp the idea that gamers might not be excited by the success of titles such asWii FitandNintendogs, two franchises that the beefy boss believes we should be hot for due to their massive sales numbers.
“What’s the fan community reaction? ‘Ho-hum.’ Until it sells millions of copies. When we showedWii Fiton stage … go back and read your blogs, what was the reaction?It’s a question of, as a gamer, ‘Is this for me and something I can get excited about?’ AndWii Fitdid not get that reaction. And yet, [it sold] 43 million copies around the world. It’s a phenomenon.
“And so I would argue that the gaming community is unable to differentiate between a phenomenon and something that is ‘ho-hum’.”
Now, I was one of the few whofelt Nintendo did goodat E3 this year, but Fils-Aime’s comments seem completely off-base, especially that last point. To suggest the vocal gamer communityonlyhas a hard-on for million-selling franchises (Psychonautswould like a word) and should therefore start masturbating openly aboutWii Fitdemonstrates a level of misunderstanding that should only be possible in aFawlty Towersepisode. Hell, all he’d have to do is look at thevery-hard-to-miss receptionCall of Dutygames have been getting lately, and realize how incorrect he is.
I like Reggie. He’s a good showman, and has fun with his job. However, just like the rest of Nintendo, he seems woefully out of touch with the audience he keeps attempting to address and really, at this point, should stop trying.
