Topic: Iwata Not Impressed by iPad, 3D Gaming

[NWR_Lindy]

Nintendo President also calls Steve Jobs a turtleneck-wearing sissy.  OK, we made that up.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20864

 At a recent event at a Tokyo Hotel, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata expressed his skepticism of Apple's iPad, 3D gaming, and the importance of high-definition capabilities for game consoles.    

The iPad, revealed last Wednesday by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, was dismissed by Iwata as "a bigger iPod Touch".  He stated his feelings quite bluntly: "There were no surprises for me."    

Iwata was also skeptical about 3D gaming, recently championed by Sony with their PS3 console and Bravia line of televisions, and popularized by James Cameron's blockbuster film "Avatar".    

In addition to citing a need to investigate the health impact of playing 3D games for hours on end, Iwata looked at the issue from another, more practical point of view.  He quipped, "I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home. How is that going to look to other people?"    

He also addressed rumors that the successor to the Nintendo DS would include motion-sensing technology, and that the Wii would soon be upgraded to support HD screen resolutions.  While he admitted that Nintendo engineers had new machines in the works, he added, "I question whether those features would be enough to get people to buy new machines."

[AV]

i agree that ipad is a disapointment. The 2nd or 3rd gen version will better.

I think 3d gaming is the future, I really liked Head Tracking .

[brian577]

Not surprising, even a die hard Mac user like me isn't impressed by a giant iPod touch.  As for 3D, it's come long way, but it should stay in the Cinema.  There's a big difference between paying a few extra dollars for a 3D movie and paying thousands for a 3D television/glasses. 

[NWR_Lindy]

With the iPad, I mean, it's not a Netbook.  It's quite literally a big iPod Touch.  OK, it doesn't run OSX, it can't multitask, it doesn't have a camera so you can't do video chat...what are you going to buy it for?  iBooks?  People aren't buying the Kindle to do that, why would they pay even more to do so on the iPad?

Furthermore, you gotta pay $30/month for 3G access, which is a must for a device pulling down as much web data as the iPad does.  I've done web browsing over EDGE on a Blackberry and it was garbage, and I can't imagine doing it on my iPhone.

The iPad is a lot like the PSP in my eyes.  It's cool technology, but it's servicing a market that doesn't exist...its banking on being able to create a market from scratch.  And like the PSP, I don't think it's unique or compelling enough to do that.

[NWR_insanolord]

Pretty big talk from a man trying to sell the DSi XL, which is just a bigger DSi.

[Urkel]

Pretty big talk from a man trying to sell the DSi XL, which is just a bigger DSi.

Nintendo isn't pretending the XL is anything more than a bigger DSi. Apple is acting like the iPad is revolutionary.

[NWR_insanolord]

Yeah, I'm very interested and will most likely buy one, but Apple really is overselling the thing.

[brian577]

/

[Enner]

The iPad is a lot like the PSP in my eyes.  It's cool technology, but it's servicing a market that doesn't exist...

:x
In the PSP's case, I think there's a sizable market of graphics whores who are on the go a lot. At least that's the case with me and having a racing game that looks better like PS1/N64 blocks.

As for high definition, I think it goes without saying that it alone isn't much of a draw. Maybe the next Nintendo console will come with a Natal-esque camera and more digital multimedia features along with motion controls and more processing power.

[KDR_11k]

Some analysts (Michael Pachter) try to claim that the iPad is a threat to the DS, makes no damn sense since it's not as portable and the iPod/iPhone are bigger rivals.

As for 3D, I think Nintendo has the most experience with the health hazards of that...

[NWR_insanolord]

Michael Pachter should do what George did on Seinfeld and say the opposite of everything he thinks to say. He'd be doing pretty well right now if he'd been doing that.

[NWR_pap64]

Some analysts (Michael Pachter) try to claim that the iPad is a threat to the DS, makes no damn sense since it's not as portable and the iPod/iPhone are bigger rivals.

As for 3D, I think Nintendo has the most experience with the health hazards of that...

Unless the iPad somehow becomes better I don't see how its a threat. Right now its a joke where even Pee-Wee Herman makes fun of it.

[- NintendoFan -]

With the iPad, I mean, it's not a Netbook.  It's quite literally a big iPod Touch.  OK, it doesn't run OSX, it can't multitask, it doesn't have a camera so you can't do video chat...what are you going to buy it for?  iBooks?  People aren't buying the Kindle to do that, why would they pay even more to do so on the iPad?

Furthermore, you gotta pay $30/month for 3G access, which is a must for a device pulling down as much web data as the iPad does.  I've done web browsing over EDGE on a Blackberry and it was garbage, and I can't imagine doing it on my iPhone.

The iPad is a lot like the PSP in my eyes.  It's cool technology, but it's servicing a market that doesn't exist...its banking on being able to create a market from scratch.  And like the PSP, I don't think it's unique or compelling enough to do that.

You're right, the iPad is not a netbook, but I think that is the point. The iPad has a better screen than a netbook, a better form factor than a netbook, and arguably a better way to interact with the device than a netbook. In a way I think Apple is saying to people who have netbooks and netbook makers that we used to have a "netbook", and it was called a tablet.

Now, I wasn't blown away with the iPad, yet I can see myself using it for the things it was demoed for. However even more importantly, I can see the potential of the device. Games and music apps are just some of the things that I could see making some big impacts. I for sure wouldn't mind a RTS on this device or a cool piano app with a screen large enough to play.

I think the iPad in general is meant to attack the netbook market, and with it I can't see myself getting one now.

(Side note: I am disappointed in the lack of multitasking. Hopefully it comes with 4.0)

[KDR_11k]

Dunno, when it comes to playing games on a non-portable system I can just as well use a console or PC and get proper buttons with tactile feedback that feel a thousand times superior to the virtual input nonsense on the iPod and stuff like RTSes tends to work better with some keys for hotkeying too. Using more than two fingers to control your games has a big advantage.

[NWR_insanolord]

I wouldn't call the iPad non-portable; it's not as portable as a DS or iPhone but it's certainly more portable than a PC or console. And certain games will really benefit from this. The iPhone is multi-touch but the smaller screen limited what you could do with it. The bigger screen size allows for more complicated touch gestures and using two hands independently. It is to the iPhone's touch screen what Motion+ was to the Wii's motion sensing.

[NWR_Lindy]

Touch screen-only control sucks for most games.  Why do you think the DS retained its SNES-style pad and buttons?  I have yet to play an iPhone game that's even close to anything on DS (aside from maybe Rolando, and that's meh).  Screen size also means nothing, just ask the PSP.

iPad is definitely a portable, though.  You can stuff it in a backpack and take it with you like a netbook...that's portable in my eyes.

The iPad makes me iSad.

[NWR_insanolord]

That's another way touch control is like motion control; it may not work great for everything, but in some cases it's way better than anything else. Screen size definitely matters when it's a touch screen. I keep thinking of more and more games I have on my iPhone that would seem to be a lot better on the iPad, though there are also quite a few that wouldn't work right on it. There are great games on the iPhone, and, while they aren't as good as top tier DS games (with some exceptions, like GTA: Chinatown Wars, which is an iPhone game that is also a top tier DS game), there is a lot of stuff that's definitely worth playing.

[TJ Spyke]

People aren't buying the Kindle to do that, why would they pay even more to do so on the iPad?

Actually, Amazon has sold several million Kindle/Kindle DX's.

I am not impressed with the iPad either. As for 3D gaming, at most it will b a ultra niche product for at LEAST another decade. Very few TV's have 3D capabilities  and regular HDTVs are only now really catching on, it will be a long tim before they think about upgrading yet again.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

To hell with this whole 3D glasses bizness.  I use 4 eyes to drive on the road.  I don't want 6 eyes to play freaking video games.

[Ian Sane]

I agree with Iwata but it's worth noting that both of these are competitor's products, so I would naturally assume he would crap on them.  Since people now play games on their iPhone, Apple has become a Nintendo competitor.  The iPad competes for some of the same market as the DSi.

[KDR_11k]

No, the iPod Touch does. The iPad is going for the netbooks or something.

[Chozo Ghost]

The iPad? what is that? It sounds like the name of some feminine hygiene product. Who would want to play games with that on the go?

[EasyCure]

Because its the latest bleeding edge of technology

[NWR_insanolord]

The iPad? what is that? It sounds like the name of some feminine hygiene product. Who would want to play games with that on the go?

Congratulations, you're the 10 millionth person to make that incredibly stupid joke.

[D_Average]

I've done web browsing over EDGE on a Blackberry and it was garbage, and I can't imagine doing it on my iPhone.

IMO surfing the web over the iPhone is fantastic, and not just for a phone.  I still have the Edge and it works great for what I need.  As long as you don't go to IGN.com you're gravy.  And this, is the only reason I'd want an iPad.  Casual web browsing.  Having a laptop on my lap all night is annoying and the iphone, while light and easy to use, is very small.  I wouldn't mind a super sized version.  But not at that price, no way!

Related to this, anyone find it funny Apple kind of beat MS to the punch on this?  Its almost like a mini, portable, MS Surface.  Oviously, its missing the OS, and the ability to save the planet, but at its core, its very similar.  Two or three years from now, it'll do a whole lot more.  Meanwhile, MS Surface will remain essentially vaporware as the masses continue to mock it on youtube.