News: Reggie Fils-Aime on Nintendo and Wii U Rebound Page 1

Reggie Fils-Aime on Nintendo and Wii U Rebound

With the New Year approaching, Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime spoke about the company's outlook for 2015 and Wii U.

The company has had a far healthier year compared in 2013, with high profile releases, together with improved hardware and software sales. He confirmed that Wii U software sales have almost doubled, with hardware figures up by around 40 percent compared to the previous year.

The renewed momentum "gives us a lot of confidence," said Fils-Aime in an interview, highlighting a goal to "drive an ongoing positive trajectory."

For the Wii U, Nintendo really want to drive a "focus on quality", with a vast "investment of people resources" needed to deliver that essential Nintendo touch.

The console itself will remain at $299 RRP, but Fils-Aime feels that the expanding catalogue will help keep the system's value and also help Nintendo maintain that crucial margin.

Do you think Nintendo can maintain that momentum into 2015?

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Flynnie 30.12.2014#1

Not at that price, the PS4 and Xb1 are crashing down in price. If the Wii U ends up being too similarly priced to these consoles then I reckon many people will opt for the competition. There needs to be a price drop half way through next year!

Viendra 30.12.2014#2

If the Wii U dropped down to $200 HECK!! I would be tempted to buy my 3rd Wii U!! I'm definitely holding out for a Title Exclusive though like Zelda or Starfox.

And yeah the XB1 has been dropping fast due to strange things with Microsoft but the PS4 has been pretty stagnant to be honest. I have yet to see a Playstation 4 bundle dip below the $400 mark besides that one release of a 100 some odd PS4 Retro consoles that sold for $20 a pop in France. But those don't count.

What I'm anxious to see is whether or not this new Quality of Life "console" ? is going to replace the Wii U or just be a different entity of its own. Only time will tell....

Flynnie 30.12.2014#3

The Quality of Life project looks like a gloryfied alarm clock that monitors your sleep. I am sure it will have a few other quirks and uses but i don't think its a games machine.

In fact, they even announced that playing games before bed is bad for your health and sleep. (I mean its obvious, but for a games manufacturer to say that is like Coca Cola admitting that Coca Cola is bad for your health...)

The Wii U needs to stay price competitive. Nintendo don't have the 'entertainment' edge that people apparently crave from their consoles these days. I am a little upset what i paid for my Wii U on launch considering that i paid the same price as a PS4 would cost but its not that disappointing of a console. There are just barely enough games to make it through the year.

I was hoping that it would become another 'GameCube' because I loved the days that Nintendo actually cherished their all their franchises...instead of whoring Kirby and Pokemon.

Insanoflex 30.12.2014#4

if nintendo can maintain a flow of varied and interesting titles then yes they can keep the momentum.

Darkflame 30.12.2014#5

I dont have a WiiU
I will when Xenoblade comes out for it.

Dont know how statistically significant I am. Guess Zelda will be the next big bump. (if it makes 2015)

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+.

jb 30.12.2014#6

Nintendo really need to embrace entertainment with the next console, and to an extent, the Wii U.

It really, really should have launched with Blu-Ray/DVD compatability - I know a lot of people are migrating to digital services, but it would have been an added selling point to have the second screen approach for watching videos, as well as playing games too.

Even things like BBC iPlayer etc need to be introduced - they've gone completely quiet

Some sort of music streaming capability would have been ace too.

Drawing tool? Bizarre how it doesn't ship with some sort of drawing tool/animation application.

Hoping they'll patch in support for playing Wii titles on the GamePad (by that I mean using the analogue sticks/buttons, not just the screen).

As for games - F-Zero, Metroid, more new IPs like Splatoon, Mario Tennis/Golf, a cross-platform Pokémon RPG, an amiibo-based Pokemon Stadium (using cards and some figures) would be a GOLDMINE for Nintendo.

I know they're shooting for quality, but they need the quantity as well.

( Edited 31.12.2014 02:35 by jb )

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Flynnie 02.01.2015#7

I would say that DVD/BluRay playback on their next console wouldn't be such a draw for the reasons that you elude to.

Nintendo need to up their game in the next generation, they actually put out tonnes of games in a year, it's just that they are spread over two systems. There's nothing wrong with the two systems , they both serve their purpose but perhaps Sony's cross play between devices might actually be a more reasonable approach to both systems. Nintendo still have a firm place in the market as a clear alternative to Microsoft and Sony which in all honesty are near enough the same , at least Ninty have a uniqueness about them. Unfortunately the last 10 years has gone from innovation to gimmicks. I fear that Nintendo are now starring down a barell of innovative thinking because this has become what Nintendo "do".

The Wii U is in a good state considering that practically all 3rd parties have abondoned it, it looked like it was sharing the same fate of the Dreamcast this time last year (with the exception that the Dreamcast probably had more better games on it)
This year is pivitol but if I were Nintendo I'd start thinking about launch titles for the successor console which will be coming out in 2017/18. Launch with a proper 3D mario, a Metroid game, an Fzero game and a raft of 3rd party games that people want COD/Fifa and all the rest of it.

Darkflame 03.01.2015#8

I dont think you need any more media support then a 100% fully standards meeting webbrowser these days.
Very,very few things need to be apps.
Sure, have a shortcut system to take you straight to a site, but a competent webbrowser gives you all the major streaming services with zero effort.

As for games, I wouldn't want them to have big brands for launch unless they can do something new with them - a disappointing 3d Mario would be far worse for Nintendo then a later one imho.

Very good point about the lack of drawing tool though - WiiU clearly not taking advantage of its strengths.

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+.

Viendra 05.01.2015#9

Still waiting for that Super Mario Galaxy 3