As usual, Nintendo like to do things differently. In a recent Q3 financial results conference, Iwata expressed that the company did not feel the four year lifespan was fitting for the Wii, among other topics. Here's a bit more in detail:
"I’m quite doubtful that such a notion of platform cycles can be applied in the future...As we continue our research and study for new hardware, when we will be able to launch a new kind of hardware will actually depend on when we can change entertainment completely, and so have a strong impact on people around the world. Or, there will certainly be a time when we have to say that we have done everything possible with the current machine, that we can never propose anything new.
"Lately, I cannot say I’m making video games on the frontline of development, but as a person who used to develop software, the availability of new hardware means that we possess a new weapon," he continued. "We long for a new weapon whenever we cry that we cannot fight anymore with the current weapons. But today’s situation is such that we are not desperate for any new weapons at all.
"Whenever we are working on so-called next generation hardware, we are always thinking in terms of the future. We need to forecast what the future will be like with the expected evolution of new technologies which are available at any given time, and try to identify the so-called “sweet spot” of technology over the next few years."
These comments are interesting for many reasons. Nintendo is clearly not focused on the cutting edge of technology, hence the Wii's comparitive strength to competing consoles. Sales have reflected that Nintendo is the console leader at the moment, yet most people tell you that they haven't touched their Wiis in months. The facts don't seem to add up here.
Clearly Nintendo can make numbers clap if they so desire, but I have to say I have no idea what the next step would be for them. If it isn't about technology as it's expressed by the competing consoles, and it isn't about innovations such as the Wiimote, what is it? The PlayStation 2 certainly had a long lifespan, with some gamers claiming they still play it more than they do their next gen consoles. I'd be interested to see where Nintendo's going to take it next to do the same for the Wii.
[Via 1Up, Thanks Justin]
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Contest:
4:11 PM on 11.05.2007
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Thanks, Iwata.
SSBB/Galaxies is a decent start, but they need an RPG or two, or twenty to achieve the legendary longevity status of PS2.
He means four years is too short to bleed the money out of the world.
Iwata has a point, don't you think?
It would make sense for Nintendo to release a Wii 2.0 within the next 2-3 years to compete with graphic capabilities of the others. But seeing how they just made loads of $$ getting everyone and their grandmothers to buy a wii, it might be a hard sell getting them to do it again so quickly.
If he thinks the Wii will have a longer lifespan, then uhh, this could get really interesting in about 2 years once developers have a better handle on making games for the PS3 (and continue making AAA's for the 360). Yeah, it seems like the only thing they could do to expand the wii's lifecycle is to get cracking on those releases.
What advantage will they have? Nintendo games?
I think that the current 4-year cycle is too short. Systems don't get pushed as hard as they used to. If the SNES had been phased out after 4 years, there would never have been a Crono Trigger or Donkey Kong Country. It seems that consoles' lives are ended just as developers are really pushing the hardware and are comfortable enough that they can put more effort into the design rather than making it work. Longer life cycles, please.
Also Colette, that photoshop made me lmao.
Nintendo could certainly afford to throw more money at devs.
"You people will buy anything, We could put out a "new" console in a year and 1/2 and you'd buy that too. In fact We Will, Cha-Ching!"
The only way I can see this working is if they counter the next generation of platforms with a revolutionary new interface [not Wiimote 2, but something completely different] that is an add-on to the Wii...something like a VR interface, or some completely new means of communication...? Something like that has potential.
Didn't Miyamoto recently say something like "Just wait to see what the Wii will be in 4 years." In the context of Iwata's comment here, that is exciting.
The only way I can see this working is if they counter the next generation of platforms with a revolutionary new interface [not Wiimote 2, but something completely different] that is an add-on to the Wii...something like a VR interface, or some completely new means of communication...? Something like that has potential.
Didn't Miyamoto recently say something like "Just wait to see what the Wii will be in 4 years." In the context of Iwata's comment here, that is exciting.
That counts as a new console each time right? Because every firmware update the PS3 requires seems to take away the essentials of it being a video game console in the first place.
Everyone knows a joystick doesn't have anywhere near as many input capabilities.
Unless you were being sarcastic, at which I have to say "heh. =P"
Like Gamecube. I find it a bit odd that everyone says the Wii is all about the controller, but to "experience" it, you had to buy a mandatory console attached, with all new accessories, too.
I think what Iwata is REALLY saying is what I've been fearing with this machine: they want to keep selling obsolete hardware but sell a bazillion different controllers and attachments. That makes sense, because it's the accessories that bring home the bacon and make the system look "cool", and what better way to make money than to make a cheap machine and encourage people to buy 5 or so controllers?
Gee, for an affordable system, the Wii sure is turning into a money siphon.
Oh, and only lousy consoles have 3-4 year life cycles. The ones that are successful generally have 6 year cycles, and still get software support for much longer than that. Maybe if Nintendo wasn't so stubborn and full of themselves, Gamecube would have laster longer. Iwata is right to realize that a powerful architecture in the Gamecube wasn't enough for the system to survive, but it was Nintendo's business policies that caused the system to die early. Of course, those same policies made them a ton of money on a "failed" system, so they're not going to change their game development strategy any time soon.