Topic: Another Perrin Kaplan Interview

[Pittbboi]

It's a long and boring one, but there are some interesting tidbits...

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15301


The Good:

Quote
BIZ: Getting back to my point about the lull and keeping momentum, though, the Q1 lineup for the Wii looks pretty anemic, honestly. And long droughts were a problem with the GameCube. Reggie Fils-Aime recently declared that there would be no droughts on the Wii, but it's as if we're starting to feel a drought already right now. I mean, when are we going to see Metroid or Mario?

PK: Well, first of all, number one you're a hardcore gamer, and we're selling to the masses as well. As I had mentioned earlier, there are millions of people who have yet to even experience Wii Sports. We've got 27 products between January and June, which gives people a lot to choose from, and that doesn't even include all of the Virtual Console games. You know, we've got Metroid and Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Smash Bros. and a lot of other really cool products... Elebits for example is getting really rave reviews and it's a really cool product. So we have about 2/3 of our products coming from third parties, which is really healthy; so while you, a core gamer are kind of waiting for our next product, there's still tons for people to experience and to find. And a lot of the hardcore products are going to continue to come and come soon.

BIZ: Ok then, so what is the expected release timeframe for Metroid and Mario?

PK: I wish I could tell you. You will learn soon.

Seems to be more proof that we'll be seeing these games in 2007, and sooner than later.


The Bad:

Quote
BIZ: Why is Nintendo planning on releasing a DVD enabled Wii so long after the launch of the console? I don't think many people will care. What's the point?

PK: I think it's just to give them a choice. We've not yet come out with a firm date; we haven't talked about it too much. It's not the top thing on our list.

BIZ: Unless that's part of the plan for a new Wii hardware revision that would incorporate DVD playback as well?

PK: There are always lots of things in the future.

BIZ: Well, Nintendo does love to tinker with hardware, with three different versions of GBA and DS & DS Lite, etc.

PK: Yeah, we do, we do. If you think about the portable market, how many years that's been given legs for... we're talking like almost 17 years of portable gaming with Game Boy.

BIZ: But does the hardware revision model lend itself to the console market also? You relaunched the GBA as the GBA SP, the DS as the DS Lite, so can that be applied to consoles like the Wii?

PK: Sure, absolutely. You'll see the ways in which we do that.

This might not be bad for some people, but I REALLY hope they don't go the gameboy route with the Wii. Releasing a DVD version is already pushing it. Any more than that, and I'm going to be really salty for being an early adopter.


And the ugly:

Quote
BIZ: Let's talk about Nintendo's online plans. Obviously you have some cool stuff with the Weather Channel, News Channel, Opera browser, etc., but in terms of online gameplay Nintendo continues to lag behind. There are still no games to play online on the Wii, everyone hates those friend codes... how will Nintendo's online plans evolve?

PK: Some of that friend code stuff is really built for the mass consumer, not just the gaming world. The Wii has tons of different offerings and a lot of it was brand new. The remote, brand new. The way in which it interfaces with the screen, brand new. The channel concept, brand new. And I think if we launched it and plunked it down and said to the absolutely uninitiated, "Here's 18 things it can do," I can guarantee you it would stay in the box. It's just too intimidating. So we really strategically wanted to roll out having nearly a year talking about the remote and getting people ready, why it's unique, because it is the Einstein of the system.

And then talking about the different things the box can do and then entering with the Virtual Console piece of it and the Wii Shop channel, introducing the channels one a time—the Mii channel has taken off and people really love that. Then ultimately we did weather, news and there's a lot more to come, but we're kind of rolling it out in a fashion that is consumable for people who are not highly experienced—and also giving you guys a chance to really explore it. And online stuff has come in the Pokemon game that has launched in Japan, and it definitely will come here and I think people will be very pleased with it. But I also think we've seen other companies launch with the entire menu of stuff, and I don't think all of it gets utilized at the start.

I really don't like the arrogance in this comment, and she's doing more of the "we're rolling things out slowly so your poor, weak minds can have a chance at fathoming what we're doing." Honestly, just admitting that they're releasing things slowly so that they HAVE stuff to release or that they're doing last minute tweaks would be much better than undermining the intelligence of the consumer.  

And it seems that friend-codes are here to stay. Let's just hope that the "some of" hints at some tweak Nintendo might add on some loophole to make friend codes bearable for those who know what they're doing.

[trip1eX]

Yeah the rollout part is half bs.   I agree that you don't want to overwhelm consumers, but what about everyone who buys a Wii after today?  Aren't they going to be overwhelmed because they are getting all the channels at once and all the VC games at once?


They hold back because not everything is ready at once and because they want to trickle out things to keep it feeling new and keep up the hype.   They are doing it with VC games.  They are doing it with channels.  They are doing it with 1st party Wii games.    

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: trip1eX
Yeah the rollout part is half bs.   I agree that you don't want to overwhelm consumers, but what about everyone who buys a Wii after today?  Aren't they going to be overwhelmed because they are getting all the channels at once and all the VC games at once?

Well, presumably the user/customer would not be overwhelmed since Nintendo has had time to talk about and introduce the new features. Remember that Nintendo isn't just selling to you and me, but to mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and your non-gaming girlfriend as well. Simplifying the basic game controller to two buttons and putting it the shape of a remote control was also done so it wouldn't be intimidating or overwhelming. In fact, aren't those reasons, the reason why Wii is outselling it's graphically more capable competition?

Nah... i'm just wearing rose colored glasses and part of the "Nintendo can do no wrong" Defense Force, right? I wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions here. Be patient, wild grasshoppa. Allow your new brothers and sisters time to adjust.

[Artimus]

I don't know if it's the best decision from our POV but it is from theirs. It's the best business decision. And, in that sense, it will benefit us much more in the long run.

[BigJim]

Meh. It's 2007. The critical masses have been on the internets for a decade now. Their feeble minds can in fact grasp such complex notions as "News" and "Weather" simultaneously without freaking out. If people can handle cell phones, and they can because the cell phone market dwarfs the console space, then they don't need Nintendo holding their hands like 3 year olds.

The PR is "we're being slow and calculated". The reality is they just don't have a product yet. Exactly what they've been doing for the last several years is beyond any of us, but such is the case anyway.  

[King of Twitch]

I've seen this too many times in stores:
"OOGA OOGA THE WII CAN PLAY GAMES ONLINE AND HAS A NEW METHOD OF CONTROL AND CAN SEND EMAIL AND HAS AN INTERFACE?? I AM TOO OVERWHELMED AND INTIMIDATED TO PURCHASE THIS BAFFLING TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL"

modern nongamer cavemen just can't adapt quickly enough.

[Kairon]

*shrug* I happen to like the long, slow, tease.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[GoldenPhoenix]

I put the releasing of channels in the same category as the VC, they just work better when they are released in bits and pieces. Like Kairon said it is a nice surprise to see what Wii channel is going to pop in and surprise us along with the virtual console games.

[Strell]

Ok we get it.  None of us like Perrin Kaplan interviews because she says things in an annoying and arrogant way.

I think we can stop making threads about her now.  

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: Strell
Ok we get it.  None of us like Perrin Kaplan interviews because she says things in an annoying and arrogant way.

Arrogant? Whats arrogant about her saying Nintendo does not want to intimidate their new gaming customers? I'd say she is saying things that are true and you just don't want to listen. Having lots of options and channels obviously isn't going to phase you, but she's not talking about you. She's talking about the new gamers Nintendo is getting with Wii Sports.

[ryancoke]

I kinda like Perrin.  She seems very appreciative of the support that Ninty's getting. I like her "everybody can get along" attitude.  Although I do find her interviews very vague usually.  But i'm sure it's the Nintendo big-wigs that are not allowing her to speak too freely.  

[NWR_pap64]

Quote
Originally posted by: Strell
Ok we get it.  None of us like Perrin Kaplan interviews because she says things in an annoying and arrogant way.

I think we can stop making threads about her now.

I second that motion...She IS Midna Kaplan, you know.

[Bill Aurion]

Sadly Perrin has been the punching bag for little emo Ninty fanboys to beat on when Nintendo doesn't reveal anything...And just like the little tike that keeps touching the bloody stove after burning his hand on it a dozen times, Ninty fans keep waiting to get info from interviews involving her and end up disappointed...SHE IS PR!  SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CRAPLOAD OF INSIDE INFO!  EVEN IF SHE DID SHE'S NOT GOING TO SACRIFICE HER JOB TO SAY IT!

[Plugabugz]

Most people are annoyed at her because she is in a position of speaking for the company (or, that region of said company) and she tends to speak waffle irons most of the time.

If the world economy listened to her, there would be a major problems on other planets probably.

[The Omen]

Just remember none of this is her opinion.  This is what she has to say.  What else can she say but no comment?

Just to add to the mounting Kaplan hatred, I have hated her since day one.  She is quite annoying for a glorified PR person.

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill Aurion SHE IS PR!  SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CRAPLOAD OF INSIDE INFO!  EVEN IF SHE DID SHE'S NOT GOING TO SACRIFICE HER JOB TO SAY IT!

Agreed.

But I guess this does cinch the question about the DVD Wii once and for all.

[Strell]

Quote
Originally posted by: 31 Flavas

Quote
Originally posted by: Strell
Ok we get it.  None of us like Perrin Kaplan interviews because she says things in an annoying and arrogant way.

Arrogant? Whats arrogant about her saying Nintendo does not want to intimidate their new gaming customers? I'd say she is saying things that are true and you just don't want to listen. Having lots of options and channels obviously isn't going to phase you, but she's not talking about you. She's talking about the new gamers Nintendo is getting with Wii Sports.

No, I don't want to listen.  You are correct.

I don't need to listen to "we're rolling out things so you can explore them" marketspeak.  I get that is all the ammo she has, but that's weak ammo.  I was done with the Everybody Votes channel the minute I saw it, I used the weather channel all of 2-3 times, and the News channel is nifty, but it's nothing bold or difficult to understand.

What about her "DON'T YOU DRINK COFFEE WTFOMG" comments a few months ago concerning VC prices?  Or her blatantly incorrect information concerning both component cables and region locks?

When you talk down to the interviewer and then simultaneously stretch that to "we're letting you get used to it," where "you" implies the rest of the gaming community and your entire userbase, you sound like a condescending, arrogant jerk.  

Now if she's talking to the noobs, that's one thing.  But I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest a few things about the noobs - 1) some of them probably aren't even connected to the net.  2) Some of them probably think you have to pay for the channels, despite being free, because you have to go to the Shop channel to get them.  3) Most of them aren't using the channels.  4) None of them are hearing what Kaplan has to say.

If even one of those things is halfway true, that doesn't help Kaplan's talk.  

I get the feeling in every one of her interview that she cuts off the interviewer's last word ALL THE TIME, for EVERY QUESTION, and with EVERY ANSWER.  Like she's all jittery and anxious.

[Kairon]

What's so wrong with the coffee analogy? I got it instantly, and think it very apt.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Smash_Brother]

I remember reading about how she practically became offended when Matt from IGN suggested that VC prices are too high (which they are) and I thought it was funny.

Although Reggie is likewise PR, he tends to have a humble edge when it comes to customers, making sure to avoid talking down to them. It's the competition he has no trouble with trashing, and that's fine by me.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Perrin fails at entertainment.

She shouldn't be interviewed.

[Kairon]

She's MUCH more entertaining if you watch a video of her. That video of her and Billy? AWESOME.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[segagamer12]

VC prices are TOO LOW damnint. They are killing the used videogame market. LTTP *USED* to be a twenty dollar SNES cart, now your luckky to get 10 for it. ANyone who has been buying Used video games, espoeciialy SENS for *any* length of time will know that VC games are way underpriced. The only reason peopel say its over priced is ebcause they want allt he VC games and dont wanna spend money on them.




Back To Perrin,.. Normaly I just read her interviews and move on, nothing learned, no harmd done so why bother, but *this* interview sucked. I liked how he turned the apples to oranges bit back in her face and she got all defensive, its like Perrin "we are not competing with PS3" Interviewer, "but yourbeating it" Perring" We respect Sony" Interviewer "how about DS" Perrin "yeah we clobbered PSP"  Interviewer "I thought you weren'y cometing wtih PSP?"  Perrin "We clobbered PSP next question. "

thata laod of BS Perrin. You can defend Wii bys aiung your not competing with sony cuz its a different product, then turn aorund and say DS *is* compdeting with PSP when its the same situation. That was the only part that bothered me about her. Everyting else is just PR BS and you gotta sift through all that.  

[Deguello]

Who gives a rat's ass?

[BigJim]

They're only competing if they're winning. Makes perfect sense. Whose intelligence could possibly be insulted by that?

[Kairon]

LOL, I caught that too Segagamer12 and thought she didn't handle that situation very well. C'mon Perrin, you're not up to form! You gotta be quicker on your feet than that!

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com