Topic: Iwata Believes Nintendo Must 'Monitor the Market Very Carefully'

[Penguin_Of_Thyme]

Satoru Iwata talks about selling the DS and Wii in new markets, the economic recession, and his belief that the market for the DS is not saturated.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17522

 Since replacing Hiroshi Yamauchi as president of Nintendo in 2002, Satoru Iwata has led the company to great success. The popular Japanese newspaper, The Yomiuri Shimbun, recently had the opportunity to speak with Satoru Iwata. In the interview, Iwata discussed the DSi, the recession, and Nintendo's future.    

According to Iwata, the DS market has not become saturated. He pointed out that Nintendo has successfully sold over 23 million DS units in a country with only 127 million people. "Sales of the [DS] could grow further in foreign countries," Iwata said, citing the high populations of the European Union and the United States. He also mentioned that Nintendo is interested in selling their video games systems in "emerging markets such as Russia and India."      

Iwata explained that owners of the DSi will be able to personalize their console by downloading programs off the internet.  Nintendo aspires to "create a trend in which each family member will have his or her own DSi with their favorite software installed."    

In addition, Iwata feels that the video game industry will continue to be strong in 2009. "It seems more and more people are enjoying games instead of traveling or eating out to save money," said Iwata. However, he realizes that the current recession is a rare occurrence and stated that Nintendo is closely watching the market. "Nintendo workers who know only the good times of the company are increasing," Iwata admitted, "I hope to give them a sense of the potential critical nature [of the economic situation]."

[Kairon]

This is the most cautious Nintendo has ever sounded about the recession. Maybe now that the Holidays are over and panic is a little less likely, they're willing to put forward less bravado.

[Bill Aurion]

However, he realizes that the current recession is a rare occurrence and stated that Nintendo is closely watching the market. "Nintendo workers who know only the good times of the company are increasing," Iwata admitted, "I hope to give them a sense of the potential critical nature [of the economic situation]." <P>

This is pretty key, in my opinion, as it really is that sort of attitude that will continue to churn out new and innovative ideas (like the DS and Wii coming to fruition due to Ninty's dilemma at the time)...Spare the competition no quarter, Iwata!

[UncleBob]

Iwata explained that owners of the DSi will be able to personalize their console by downloading programs off the internet.  Nintendo aspires to "create a trend in which each family member will have his or her own DSi with their favorite software installed."

Interesting.  Targeting those families that own one DS that everyone uses.  It'd be like three kids sharing an iPod - Timmy doesn't want to listen to Mary's Boy Bands and no one wants mom to borrow it to load her Garth Brooks onto it...

[Kairon]

Yeah, this is part of Iwata's strategy to increase their handheld userbase, to make it such that each person feel like it's their personal player, not merely something they pass around. And of course, the DSi's downloadable games, picture-taking ability, and music-playing ability all sort of dovetail neatly with that goal doesn't it?