We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.

Iwata Asks: In Commemoration, Part 8 - Wii no Ma

Wii no Ma, Part 7 - "Building 'Wii no Ma' Together With Everyone"

by the NWR Staff - August 24, 2016, 9:44 pm EDT

Part 7 of Wii no Ma.

7. Building “Wii no Ma” Together With Everyone

Suzuki - One other big change with “Wii no Ma TV” is the search screen. For version one, we still didn’t have much content to show, so the search screen displayed only as a list. But we’ve made it more readable in version two, separating the top screen into lists per series title.

Iwata - So for anyone that wants to watch all the episodes of “Enchanting Repairs” in succession, it’s easy to do.

Suzuki - Additionally it’s easy to find ratings and different information, making the search screen functions much easier to use.

Tony - And the search girl dances now!

Suzuki - Right, right (laughs).

Iwata - She dances? Previously she was weirdly calm, wasn’t she?

Suzuki - She was very modest (laughs). But now her body sways, and the music is more poppy.

Tony - It’s fun just to watch that. That was Beppu-san’s idea.

Beppu - I wanted to make it more fun.

Iwata - Ok then, Beppu-san, would you discuss things that have changed in version 2, or perhaps what you’re trying to accomplish in it?

Beppu - Sure. There are two big changes. The first is that we’ve consciously tried to provide video that can affect your everyday life. For instance, we have one called the “Your First OOO Series,” a series of rather interesting, helpful videos. One episode is “Your First Wedding Speech,” so you might watch that and it could help you in making a speech at someone’s wedding. There’s also the “I Wish I Could OOO Series,” videos for taking on new challenges, so you could learn an attractive, complex way to tie a tie for instance, or how to moon walk. These are really effective because they’re video.

Iwata - So maybe if you’re asked, “I have to do this tomorrow and would appreciate your help.” - you might think of turning on “Wii no Ma.”

Beppu - That would be great. You’re also able to download that video to DSi and take it with you on the go, so it would be great if people utilized this in different ways in their every day lives.   Another thing is that we have video and coupon services for mail order samples, and we’re hoping to focus on that experience even more moving forward. We had one mail order sample service for new teas…

Iwata - That was apparently very well received.

Beppu - Yes. In this case it’s not a Concierge Mii ringing the doorbell and visiting “Wii no Ma,” but rather an honest to god delivery to your tea table at home (laughs). This has been possible thanks to various partner companies. We have video that clearly explains how to best brew tea, so if you feel like you’d like to try it as you’re watching the video, there’s a service window next to the video that you can go to and apply at..

Iwata - And after just a couple of days your doorbell rings - “ding dong!” (laughs).

Beppu - Right. So hopefully moving forward we’ll be able to expand not only on the video, but on ways that we can connect people to new experiences like this.

Iwata - That part is the interesting aspect of “Wii no Ma” in both real life and the virtual world.

Beppu - Right. And so when you enter “Wii no Ma” there’s a tea table right in the middle, but for version two a pamphlet comes falling down there from the ceiling. For instance, if you have a customer that lives in Kyoto, it might contain video and coupons for stores in Kyoto.

Iwata - The Wii stores that information of where people live, which is what makes that possible.

Beppu - And now we display what’s been updated when you boot up “Wii no Ma”.

Iwata - Now you can see “What’s New” right on the first screen.

Beppu - Right. There’s also a new “Move” icon on the bottom right of “Wii no Ma,” and if you click that you can easily access different places like “Theater no Ma,” “Various Ma,” “Wii no Ma Calendar” and “Wii no Ma TV.”

Yukawa - In “Wii no Ma” you’re able to turn around and view the room 360 degrees, but some people prefer just to be able to pick where to go from a list.

Iwata - I see. Well then, I’d like to finish up by having everyone explain what the one thing is they’d like people reading this to know. Let’s start with Suzuki-san.

Suzuki - Ok. Earlier we talked about “Hypothesis Validation Devices” - and honestly when I first hear that I couldn’t comprehend what was being said. And then one day Beppu-san said, “Look, not even I am planning on making all of the decisions based on numbers. But if we’re smart about looking at the data here, there should be all kinds of hints for us.” That’s when it all made sense to me.

Iwata - There’s all kinds of hints hidden in the data that you get every week.

Suzuki - Right. I think that goes for the customers as well. There’s all kinds of hints in “Wii no Ma,” so I’d like for people to watch it with the intention of searching out those hints.

Iwata - I see. Ok, Tony?

Tony - From a personal standpoint, my father is American and my mother is Japanese. And due to circumstances related to my dad’s job, and my relation to my mom, I tend to go back and forth between America and Kyoto. The fact that I can speak Japanese isn’t just because of my mother, but also because of fate, to an extent. I’d love for “Wii no Ma” to be a kind of link to “fate” for others.

Iwata - So, you’d like for the things that happen in “Wii no Ma” to give people once in a lifetime chances.

Tony - Right. I think there’s an opportunity for people to find new things and remember things they may have forgotten. For instance, in addition to new releases, the “Theater no Ma” content includes movies from ten years ago that they might enjoy.

Iwata - There might even be movies that you wanted to watch but never got a chance to.

Tony - It would be great if people feel nostalgia, or get some other kind of stimulation from that content - and I’d like to tell people to look forward to those kinds of experiences.

Yukawa - I’ll also put it simply. This provides new information and chances to find new things, whether that’s a company or some product, or the content of some video - I’d love for people to enjoy the chance to find new things and experience things they’ve never done before.

Iwata - And finally, Beppu-san.

Beppu - There’s just one thing I want to say. Just find the time to boot up “Wii no Ma” just once a week.

Everyone - (laughs)

Beppu - Whether it’s Saturday, or Sunday, whatever day works for you, just turn on the switch, and I’d be happy if you’d try it out and think to yourself, “This isn’t half bad.” I’d be even happier if the “Wii no Ma” service provided a stimulus that made your tea table more lively and energetic.

Iwata - Ok, I’ll go next. My message is this; Wii - this device, this game machine, through some curious fate, has brought all of these people together at this tea table, people who had walked completely different paths in life - won’t you try out this thing that creates such curious circumstances?

Beppu - Because we’re making “Wii no Ma” with everyone who’s watching it.

Yukawa - Right.

Iwata - What Beppu-san does next depends all on how everyone watches, evaluates, or stops watching in the middle of, and how often everyone kicks out the Concierge Miis.

Suzuki - There’s no TV station like it.

Beppu - It’s “WIi no Ma” - which we’re creating with everyone together, so we hope to be with you all for a long time.

Images

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement