Post by: Svevan on June 06, 2007, 08:37:39 AM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13582
Three top executives and 90% of Sales and Marketing staff at Nintendo of America have decided not to relocate to New York or San Francisco when the division moves later this month. George Harrison, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Beth Llewelyn, Senior Director of Public Relations, and Perrin Kaplan, Vice President, Marking and Corporate Affairs are all resigning their posts when Sales and Marketing makes the move from Redmond, where NOA is currently headquarted. Sources close to Game Informer Online have reported that these three and the other resigning employees will take a severance package of some sort.
No one has received an official word yet on the resignations or when they will actually occur; Game Informer speculates the three will leave after this year's E3 show in Los Angeles.
Nintendo World Report recently interviewed George Harrison on our podcast at the Universal CityWalk midnight Wii launch. Our last interview with Perrin Kaplan can be found here.
Post by: Ceric on June 06, 2007, 08:59:25 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 06, 2007, 09:00:59 AM
Nintendo wanted them gone. If they had actually wanted to keep them, they could have sweetened the deal for them to move to the point where it would have been a better career move to stay.
However, the fact that they opted for the severance package indicates that it was intentionally made out to be the better choice so they'd opt to resign.
Something tells me this is Nintendo's way of "sweeping out the barn". Current Wii success is probably 70-80% due to word of mouth and has very little to do with advertising.
Post by: Ceric on June 06, 2007, 09:07:22 AM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on June 06, 2007, 09:11:49 AM
The Harrison interview link is borken.
Post by: that Baby guy on June 06, 2007, 09:17:47 AM
Post by: Rhoq on June 06, 2007, 09:19:28 AM
Post by: RickPowers on June 06, 2007, 09:20:30 AM
That said, I'm absolutely stunned by this development. It's definitely a changing of the guard, that's for sure. But I'm not surprised ... you were asking people to move to two of the most expensive places to live in the country, and Seattle wasn't really cheap to begin with. I can't blame them for not wanting to uproot their families. Still, it's going to be a massive change for the company.
Post by: mantidor on June 06, 2007, 09:25:18 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Rhoq
Every time Kaplan opened up her mouth she was shooting Nintendo in the foot. It's seems she's been doing nothing but spewing misinformation since E3 2004. I'm sure Reggie got tired of making up excuses for comments she obviously made up (Wii would feature a new type of "High Def" gaming experience, Wii games would be region free, etc.)...I'll miss her since she was usually some well needed comic relief, but other than that she was basically worthless.
what!? I don't think so, it was usually the other way around, I'd say it was more like no-information if anything, her interviews didn't say anything we didn't already know, and reggie has screwed up way more than her back when he wasn't president.
Post by: IceCold on June 06, 2007, 09:25:54 AM
I don't really understand the hate towards Kaplan.. she might have made some mistakes but overall, she wasn't too bad. And with Harrison leaving too, this is a major shakeup.
Post by: couchmonkey on June 06, 2007, 09:28:15 AM
Big change indeed. I personally think the marketing for Wii has been great, but there's no doubt that the product is so good that it practically sells itself. I don't think this will have a huge impact.
Post by: Ceric on June 06, 2007, 09:38:40 AM
Post by: WuTangTurtle on June 06, 2007, 09:58:43 AM
Best wishes to those guys.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 06, 2007, 10:00:24 AM
About the PR hate, you have to realize we don't really get any real information out of them, especially crap we can hold them to down the road. It's always been that way. But their job as a public face for Nintendo, especially on the internet, IS TO ENTERTAIN ME. Reggie's the only westerner so far to consistently manage that. The others, no. IGN tried their hardest over the years with Kaplan & Co, but they were unsuccessful. And Billy really let the cat out the bag with that last Kaplan/freak interview. Reggie? He doesn't need an interview to kick public relational ass.
BUT YES, WE CAN NOW REPLACE THE EMPTY SEATS WITH CLONES OF REGGIE, EACH ONE WITH THE POWER TO MANIPULATE A MANA ELEMENTAL OF THE EARTH.
Post by: Artimus on June 06, 2007, 10:12:51 AM
I think Reggie just took their names and kicked their asses.
Post by: that Baby guy on June 06, 2007, 10:17:56 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: RickPowers
You guys are totally off base. I can tell you for an absolute fact that Perrin wanted to change a lot of the ways Nintendo was marketed in the US, and the decisions were largely taken out of her hands by NCL.
That said, I'm absolutely stunned by this development. It's definitely a changing of the guard, that's for sure. But I'm not surprised ... you were asking people to move to two of the most expensive places to live in the country, and Seattle wasn't really cheap to begin with. I can't blame them for not wanting to uproot their families. Still, it's going to be a massive change for the company.
Yeah, I figured that all along, secretly, but I still have an irrational blaming of her, just because. It's fun to do that. Or something.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 06, 2007, 10:20:37 AM
Fun is what it's all about, right?
Post by: that Baby guy on June 06, 2007, 10:23:44 AM
Post by: Caliban on June 06, 2007, 10:25:47 AM
Post by: joshnickerson on June 06, 2007, 10:59:30 AM
Post by: that Baby guy on June 06, 2007, 11:04:55 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 06, 2007, 11:19:56 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: RickPowers
You guys are totally off base. I can tell you for an absolute fact that Perrin wanted to change a lot of the ways Nintendo was marketed in the US, and the decisions were largely taken out of her hands by NCL.
Thing is, so much of the crap she said which either made no sense or was downright insulting to Nintendo's fans that I too would have prevented her from making any administrative changes to anything.
I understand that the job of PR people is to say something without actually saying anything, but she failed at that where others in her field succeeded.
Post by: UncleBob on June 06, 2007, 11:26:20 AM
Post by: LuigiHann on June 06, 2007, 11:27:08 AM
Chuck Norris: Senior VP of Kicking
Vin Diesel: VP of Names
Jack Bauer: Executive VP of killing people who know too much
Post by: Kairon on June 06, 2007, 11:28:42 AM
... NINETY PERCENT OF THE STAFF ARE NOT STAYING WITH NINTENDO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
STAY IN WASHINGTON NINTENDO! CANCEL THE MOVE! PLEASEEEEEE!!!!!
Post by: LuigiHann on June 06, 2007, 11:43:08 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
... NINETY PERCENT OF THE STAFF ARE NOT STAYING WITH NINTENDO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
STAY IN WASHINGTON NINTENDO! CANCEL THE MOVE! PLEASEEEEEE!!!!!
90% of the Sales and Marketing staff of Nintendo of America.
I don't worry too much about the impact of this change.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 06, 2007, 11:49:42 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on June 06, 2007, 12:00:24 PM
Why is Nintendo moving anyway? What's the benefit?
Post by: NWR_Lindy on June 06, 2007, 12:06:57 PM
Cynicism aside, I'll be interested to see who they fill these positions with. I figured Reggie would be good when he was hired because of all the work he did with VH1. Hopefully they don't hire a bunch of corporate stiffs.
Post by: that Baby guy on June 06, 2007, 12:30:20 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 06, 2007, 12:53:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
In Nintendo's case losing 90% of Sales and Marketing staff might actually be a positive thing. It's not like NOA's marketing has been, you know, good in any way for like the six years or so. And if Nintendo's marketing ineptitude is a result of NCL nailing their dick to the floor then it doesn't really matter who's working in marketing anyway. Still bummer for any of them that liked their job.
Why is Nintendo moving anyway? What's the benefit?
Because it is so obvious that marketing has been terrible for NDS and Wii right? Give me a break, I think people need to give them more credit, Nintendo of America has improved tremendously in marketing.
Post by: ShyGuy on June 06, 2007, 01:06:03 PM
I bet that at least one of these people will end up at Microsoft.
Post by: Patchkid15 on June 06, 2007, 01:10:57 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 06, 2007, 01:26:03 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Patchkid15
I just hope there can be more Wii ad's on TV to draw in a larger audience without them there.
Because that is what we need, a bigger audience that can't get a Wii.
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on June 06, 2007, 02:03:20 PM
I think GoldenPhoenix is right thought, while Perrin made her mistakes, who doesn't she is just human after all. So the good riddance Kaplan thing is a little immature because if you read in a interview she said that she loved her job and she loved the Seattle area.
Post by: LuigiHann on June 06, 2007, 02:08:17 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Lord_die_seis
The only commercials I'm actually bored of are PS3 commercials, and the dude get your own motto for PSP is corny bad.
This is a bit off topic, but man, Cheez-its were using "Get Your Own Box" as a slogan fairly recently, and these ads strike me as obnoxiously similar.
I do like the "Wii would like to play" ads. They're quirky and consistent, and they show off the system pretty well.
Post by: Spak-Spang on June 06, 2007, 02:12:16 PM
Post by: Mikemn on June 06, 2007, 03:05:10 PM
At least Reggie is still at NOA.
Post by: wandering on June 06, 2007, 03:14:09 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
... PERRIN KAPLAN IS LEAVING?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
STAY IN WASHINGTON NINTENDO! CANCEL THE MOVE! PLEASEEEEEE!!!!!
Fixed.
*sob*
Post by: Dirk Temporo on June 06, 2007, 04:19:43 PM
Post by: ShyGuy on June 06, 2007, 05:01:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Spak-Spang
Chuck Norris wouldn't work for Nintendo, because Reggie would show the world how much of a fraud Mr. Norris really is.
You shut your filthy mouth. Chuck Norris + Reggie = a fifty mile wide smoking crater of pure macho.
Post by: Kairon on June 06, 2007, 05:02:04 PM
/cries
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 06, 2007, 07:20:26 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
Oh god... you people are making it sound like people are cogs in a machine, replacable and with no innate value!!!
/cries
And don't you ever forget that. You can be replaced by a Bowser plushy at any time and no one would be the wiser!
Post by: Strell on June 06, 2007, 07:23:28 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Mikemn
I'm sad to see them go, but I'm even more sad that this pretty much confirms the death of Nintendo Power magazine. IGN predicted it a few weeks ago, but I didn't believe it.
At least Reggie is still at NOA.
I can assure you 100% NP isn't dying. But it's about to change.
As for this news, I've said I'd like to get Kaplan out of the public eye and behind the scenes, but I didn't expect this or really want her to lose her job.
The person I've talked to about this is just as annoyed about everything and thinks he won't stick around much longer either. I've asked him who in the world thought moving was such a good idea. He has theories but I'm not going to repeat them here. Suffice to say it is pretty major, and seems like an ill-thought out move considering what is happening.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 06, 2007, 07:28:16 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: StrellQuote
Originally posted by: Mikemn
I'm sad to see them go, but I'm even more sad that this pretty much confirms the death of Nintendo Power magazine. IGN predicted it a few weeks ago, but I didn't believe it.
At least Reggie is still at NOA.
I can assure you 100% NP isn't dying. But it's about to change.
As for this news, I've said I'd like to get Kaplan out of the public eye and behind the scenes, but I didn't expect this or really want her to lose her job.
The person I've talked to about this is just as annoyed about everything and thinks he won't stick around much longer either. I've asked him who in the world thought moving was such a good idea. He has theories but I'm not going to repeat them here. Suffice to say it is pretty major, and seems like an ill-thought out move considering what is happening.
You know what I find odd, and perhaps a bit hypocritical about people hating Kaplan? These are the same people who bash marketers for spinning and not saying what they think. Kaplan usually said what she thinks, and yet that is also terrible. I am so confused.
Post by: that Baby guy on June 06, 2007, 07:37:23 PM
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on June 06, 2007, 08:01:04 PM
maybe they'll go work with their friend Ken Lobb at Microsoft, lol.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 06, 2007, 08:04:09 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: thatguy
I'm telling you, people just love to hate Kaplan. Sure, she did everything very well, and she was also good at interviewing, but they still love to hate her. Sure, it may be An Inconvenient Truth, but I like it. Partly because I feel like she can take that kind of response pretty well.
Kaplan had a unique style in that she was pretty personal and open, you don't see that too often in that position. Of course when you have that style you put yourself at risk of saying something potentially offensive (which is why so many in her line of work spin more than talk).
Post by: Strell on June 06, 2007, 08:22:20 PM
It was the constant - constant - misinformation coming out of her mouth, rapidfire, with little to no downtime in between. Granted, this information pretty much only affects the hardcore audience (since no casual gamer gives a crap about region-free), but it was still incredibly annoying.
That's not spin, that's not a technique, that's not anything, and all it really served to do was inject a very strong "NoA doesn't know wtf they are doing" note into discussion.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 06, 2007, 08:32:56 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Strell
I couldn't care less about Kaplan's cheeky little comments like "you are a freak if you've beaten SPM by now" or her take on "WTF YOU DRINK COFFEE AND BITCH ABOUT DOWNLOAD PRICES" schtick.
It was the constant - constant - misinformation coming out of her mouth, rapidfire, with little to no downtime in between. Granted, this information pretty much only affects the hardcore audience (since no casual gamer gives a crap about region-free), but it was still incredibly annoying.
That's not spin, that's not a technique, that's not anything, and all it really served to do was inject a very strong "NoA doesn't know wtf they are doing" note into discussion.
The region-free thing was a screw up, but I didn't see it as a big deal, she made a mistake, oh no she should be fired. Kaplan made some close relationships with important people in media and that is what mattered, she was personal and pretty direct, even if that led to some missteps. Not to mention we still don't know if those mistakes she made were actually her fault, they could have easily been a communication breakdown somewhere in the line.
Post by: Strell on June 06, 2007, 08:44:17 PM
Post by: oohhboy on June 06, 2007, 11:16:17 PM
Post by: Ian Sane on June 07, 2007, 05:52:22 AM
I haven't seen any improvement over the Cube and GBA marketing. The DS and Wii have succeeded despite the marketing, not because of it.
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 07, 2007, 06:03:22 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Strell It was the constant - constant - misinformation coming out of her mouth, rapidfire, with little to no downtime in between. Granted, this information pretty much only affects the hardcore audience (since no casual gamer gives a crap about region-free), but it was still incredibly annoying.
That's not spin, that's not a technique, that's not anything, and all it really served to do was inject a very strong "NoA doesn't know wtf they are doing" note into discussion.
Well...said.
I'm betting Reggie wanted to get rid of her just so he could stop apologizing for the unending misinformation.
Know why I don't like Kaplan? Not because she insulted Nintendo's fans, not because she spewed a constant stream of misinformation and not because she was clearly trying to get into Matt Cassimassina's (spelling) pants every interview.
I don't like her because every time I read an interview with her, I get a bad impression of Nintendo and I'm a huge fan of Nintendo. The job of PR and marketing people is to make people feel good about the company, to be full of confidence and have every word instill more of a sense of pride in owning Nintendo hardware. Perrin was better at instilling FUD about Nintendo than most Sony/MS reps are.
So again, I don't like Perrin because SHE WAS BAD AT HER JOB, and thankfully, Nintendo understands this and offered her a generous severance package but probably a piss poor salary, their own way of saying, "Hey, this boat's leaving, and you won't be on it."
Good riddance.
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane I haven't seen any improvement over the Cube and GBA marketing. The DS and Wii have succeeded despite the marketing, not because of it.
Again, agreed in full.
Reggie and the free press did a much, MUCH better job getting the word of the Wii out there than any commercials ever did, and the rest was all viral marketing.
Nintendo probably took a long, hard look at what they were doing for advertising and said, "Why are we paying these assh*les again?"
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 07, 2007, 06:08:55 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
Perrin was better at instilling FUD about Nintendo than most Sony/MS reps are.
So again, I don't like Perrin because SHE WAS BAD AT HER JOB, and thankfully, Nintendo understands this and offered her a generous severance package but probably a piss poor salary, their own way of saying, "Hey, this boat's leaving, and you won't be on it."
Good riddance.
It was either that or Nintendo offer her a promotion with a corner office at the building across the street.
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 07, 2007, 06:23:58 AM
Then she can go about making 360 owners ashamed and afraid of owning the console.
Post by: NWR_pap64 on June 07, 2007, 06:43:24 AM
But I agree that it was the systems' appeal and games that made them successful, not the advertising.
Post by: mantidor on June 07, 2007, 07:41:56 AM
Besides, this isn't a Kaplan issue since George Harrison and apparently 90% of the staff is leaving as well, so don't turn it into one, its not about Kaplan is about Nintendo moving.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 07, 2007, 08:02:06 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 07, 2007, 10:18:25 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
Kaplan interviews never made me feel bad about Nintendo, I don't know what the hell smash_brother is talking about, and she wasn't fired either, stop making up things, and it also appears the whole thing is still speculation for now according to Nintendo.
Besides, this isn't a Kaplan issue since George Harrison and apparently 90% of the staff is leaving as well, so don't turn it into one, its not about Kaplan is about Nintendo moving.
Let's ask a hypothetical business question, shall we?
Say you're a business who wants to get rid of some dead-weight employees who are doing squat for you.
Do you:
A) Fire them all, thus resulting in a massive amount of media backlash and casting shadows upon the future of your company due to "layoffs".
or
B) Move the headquarters they're located in across the country with no offer of a salary increase, basically forcing 90% of them to resign on their own to pursue other opportunities and making the severance packages look very generous.
The point is not that the move made keeping the job unappealing to these executives. The point is that Nintendo didn't make any effort to keep them on payroll via a salary increase, paying for relocation costs, etc.
It's a win-win for Nintendo: they get to relieve the company of unnecessary salary expenditures while not getting even a whiff of bad press for firing people as a result.
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on June 07, 2007, 10:30:47 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
The point is not that the move made keeping the job unappealing to these executives. The point is that Nintendo didn't make any effort to keep them on payroll via a salary increase, paying for relocation costs, etc.
There is no basis for that assumption.
On a lighter note, Perrin Kaplan's name always sounded like Klingon to me. I'll miss that.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 07, 2007, 10:33:30 AM
That man KNOWS how to TALK.
Post by: Ceric on June 07, 2007, 10:33:43 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: pap64
The DS advertising I agree can be better (the EBA commercials were so vague I am surprised it sold very well in the US), but the Wii has been very solid and an improvement over the GC commercials.
But I agree that it was the systems' appeal and games that made them successful, not the advertising.
Any commercial without a customed character is an improvement of the Gamecube.
Post by: Kairon on June 07, 2007, 10:45:13 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
Originally posted by: mantidor
Kaplan interviews never made me feel bad about Nintendo, I don't know what the hell smash_brother is talking about, and she wasn't fired either, stop making up things, and it also appears the whole thing is still speculation for now according to Nintendo.
Besides, this isn't a Kaplan issue since George Harrison and apparently 90% of the staff is leaving as well, so don't turn it into one, its not about Kaplan is about Nintendo moving.
Let's ask a hypothetical business question, shall we?
Say you're a business who wants to get rid of some dead-weight employees who are doing squat for you.
Do you:
A) Fire them all, thus resulting in a massive amount of media backlash and casting shadows upon the future of your company due to "layoffs".
or
B) Move the headquarters they're located in across the country with no offer of a salary increase, basically forcing 90% of them to resign on their own to pursue other opportunities and making the severance packages look very generous.
The point is not that the move made keeping the job unappealing to these executives. The point is that Nintendo didn't make any effort to keep them on payroll via a salary increase, paying for relocation costs, etc.
It's a win-win for Nintendo: they get to relieve the company of unnecessary salary expenditures while not getting even a whiff of bad press for firing people as a result.
How in the world is 90% of your marketing and sales force deadweight?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
... more and more I'm suspecting that this is Reggie making a move at consolidating power and drastically overhauling NOA's marketting in his own image.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 07, 2007, 10:48:48 AM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on June 07, 2007, 11:07:30 AM
Post by: Kairon on June 07, 2007, 11:51:59 AM
Post by: BigJim on June 07, 2007, 12:11:33 PM
Quote
Fire them all, thus resulting in a massive amount of media backlash and casting shadows upon the future of your company due to "layoffs".
Any analyst can look at the company's performance and know they're in no crisis.
Post by: ThePerm on June 07, 2007, 12:23:07 PM
I think NOA should be massively reworked. Currently, most of all the content is being made in japan, and all NOA does ist translate the content. There is NTS and Retro, but what really should happen is there needs to be more internal development stateside.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 07, 2007, 12:36:02 PM
I HAVE PEOPLE SKILLS!
I AM GOOD. AT DEALING. WITH PEOPLE! CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?!"
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 07, 2007, 05:37:39 PM
Quote
There is no basis for that assumption.
The fact that Kaplan and co were not offered more incentive to relocate to the point where they stayed on board transcends all assumption.
If Nintendo wanted Kaplan and co to stay, they could have simply said, "What will it take to convince you to come with us?"
Furthermore, why was the move done in the first place? What was the official reason?
Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon How in the world is 90% of your marketing and sales force deadweight?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Because Wii Sports did more for selling the Wii than all their advertising combined.
There was a time right after launch when Wiis were somewhat plentiful, but that only changed 2-3 weeks later when the viral effect of Wii Sports caught fire and everyone and their mother (literally) went out to buy one. Had the marketing staff actually done their job, Wiis would have been sold out since day one.
That aside, the Wii has been selling itself like crazy. Why keep an entire marketing staff on the payroll when they're unneeded?
Quote
... more and more I'm suspecting that this is Reggie making a move at consolidating power and drastically overhauling NOA's marketting in his own image.
I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case.
Quote
Any analyst can look at the company's performance and know they're in no crisis.
True, but if the bad press isn't an issue, the FUD which Sony/MS would present as a result would be.
They're both the type to attempt to attack any perceived weakness Nintendo might have right now and they'd blow it out of proportion.
Besides, it's better all around if Nintendo isn't known for "letting people go" but "losing people in the move".
Post by: King of Twitch on June 07, 2007, 06:52:41 PM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on June 08, 2007, 02:55:30 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
There is no basis for that assumption.
The fact that Kaplan and co were not offered more incentive to relocate to the point where they stayed on board transcends all assumption.
If Nintendo wanted Kaplan and co to stay, they could have simply said, "What will it take to convince you to come with us?"
Furthermore, why was the move done in the first place? What was the official reason?
What if her answer to that question was unreasonable or exceeded her value to the company, whatever it might be? What if she simply didn't want to leave Redmond? What if aliens are responsible? This is still technically a rumor. There is no official word at all.
To me, it sounds more like the move was a vastly unpopular and probably unwise decision, perhaps made by someone with pointy hair. That is infinitely more believable than all these conspiracy theories.
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 08, 2007, 07:28:07 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: PartyBear
To me, it sounds more like the move was a vastly unpopular and probably unwise decision, perhaps made by someone with pointy hair. That is infinitely more believable than all these conspiracy theories.
Businesses thrive upon using loopholes, BS words and what Scott Adams colorfully refers to as "weasel maneuvers" to exercise their will while dodging as many of the normal penalties for doing so as possible.
Firing people is always a bad thing. Never in the business world is this well-received. Either A) people perceive it as bad news for your company or B) people perceive that your company made a mistake in hiring them to start with.
However, if the company launches an initiative to move the headquarters to a new location and just so happens to not entice the unwanted employees to move with them, it was the choice of the employees to not remain with the company.
And on the same subject, why would anyone want to move a marketing division away from the corporate division if the marketing division was doing its job? Answer: they wouldn't.
The entire purpose of moving the marketing division to either NY or San Franciso is so Nintendo will have access to a better pool of talent, meaning that the current talent wasn't up to snuff.
It's a smart business decision: kill two birds with one stone via getting rid of the lousy marketing staff while moving your headquarters to a location where you'll have access to better talent.
Post by: that Baby guy on June 08, 2007, 08:19:55 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 08, 2007, 08:46:47 AM
If an employee is truly adding value to a company, that company will bend over backwards to keep them on board.
Like I said, the whole purpose of moving the marketing department was to get closer to people who are better than the people they currently had employed.
I don't believe Nintendo said, "Let's get rid of Kaplan." but they realized that they wanted a new marketing department and these executives, they felt, weren't worth going through hoops to keep.
Post by: ThePerm on June 09, 2007, 07:07:38 PM
Post by: Pittbboi on June 10, 2007, 07:43:46 AM
Anyway, whether or not replacing the entire staff will eventually prove to be a good thing, part of me doubts that NOA was prepared to have to replace 60-90% of their marketing staff, including three top execs representing decades of experience with the company. I just hope this doesn't affect their E3 showing.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on June 10, 2007, 07:52:33 AM
1) Finding a new house
2) Setting up the move into the new house
3) Actually moving into the new house
4) Finding a new school for your children
5) Getting your kids enrolled in said school
6) Finding a new local church, if you attend church
7) Will your kids like the new school? Will they make friends?
8) Will you and your spouse make new friends?
9) Will your family like the new city?
It's a major pain in the butt. It's a big deal and I can see why people wouldn't want to do it, especially if they're a high-paid executive with tons of experience. Harrison, Kaplan, and Llewelyn may or may not want to leave Nintendo, but if they do you can be assured that they will find another job in a heartbeat (especially in Seattle).
Typically, people will do what is least disruptive to their family, no matter what kind of job they have (as it should be). I'm sure Nintendo would attempt to retain all of these people because it's less disruptive to their business operation to keep them on staff during this transition. If they ever wanted to get rid of them, they could force their resignation (fire them and then announce that they "resigned to pursue other opportunities").
Post by: mantidor on June 10, 2007, 10:19:19 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: CericQuote
Originally posted by: pap64
The DS advertising I agree can be better (the EBA commercials were so vague I am surprised it sold very well in the US), but the Wii has been very solid and an improvement over the GC commercials.
But I agree that it was the systems' appeal and games that made them successful, not the advertising.
Any commercial without a customed character is an improvement of the Gamecube.
sorry but this and this ads were absolutly awesome, I miss them, now we only get annoying people playing the games, I couldn't care less for them!.
Post by: Pittbboi on June 10, 2007, 10:57:23 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on June 10, 2007, 02:25:15 PM
Also, if this is the division responsible for this abomination, then I would have fired them AND the idiot who let that air, immediately.
