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]."