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Reggie Questions Wii U Competitors
June 08 2012 by Dylan James
The Wii U GamePad’s energy only lasts 5 hours and it takes 2.5 hours to charge. When two GamePads are used, the frame rate cuts in half. Miiverse messages will be delayed by 30 minutes. The system itself only has 8 GB of internal memory. Nintendo’s stock is at a serious low.
It is to this environment that Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has come forward to announce that the Wii U is “tremendously powerful”, and went on to question the entire existence of competing consoles (because the Wii U is assured dominance). Here’s the full quote:
“I think in the end, the consumer choice is going to be… Once I buy my Wii U, that satisfies my Nintendo cravings and my cravings for all of these other great multi-platform franchises, then what is the role of a competitive platform? It’s going to have to live on the backs of some sort of unique proposition, or unique content.”
And to me that’s the million-dollar question. Of our potential competitors down the road, who’s going to have that compelling content that’s going to say, hey, now I need to branch out and pick up this additional system? I think it’s for them to answer.”
In shortened terms, the GamePad-less competitors have no unique “hook”, therefore when everyone buys the Wii U there will be no need for competing platforms to exist seeing as all the multi-platform games will also be on the Wii U.
First off, this argument works both ways. If someone isn’t particularly a Nintendo fan, then they aren’t going to buy the Wii U for its multi-platform content - they already have another system for that.
Secondly (and more importantly), this is not the time for comments like this. Yes, this is an arrogant statement - and why not? Nintendo has made plenty of arrogant statements before. The difference being said statements were made when Nintendo was rolling in money from the Wii and DS - this isn’t the same situation. Nintendo has never been questioned as much as it is right now - and this is simply not the time to take to the press with statements that deride the existence of other consoles; not when your own upcoming console’s integrity is in question.
It’s time for Nintendo to take a different tack with this situation. Blithely assuring everyone that they’re the best just because - and then making oblivious light of the competition - comes across as if they live in a bubble. For their own good, they have to start being humbler. Look at Sony! All of their press conferences and statements were horrifically rude and inconsiderate, but then the PSN hacking happened - ever since, they have been positively serene and humble, and the tone of the gaming industry has been all the better for it.
Nintendo has to let this Wii U reveal mess by their PSN hacking. Now is the time to react not by bashing their competitors, but by taking the higher road. Admit they made mistakes, and show us what they plan for the future. This is not the end of Nintendo - not by a long shot. They just need to embrace a more humble outlook.
What are your thoughts on this entire situation? Comment away!
Source: IGN via VideoGamer
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