In an interview with Mashable over the weekend, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime talked about the video game giant’s corporate philosophy and how their way of innovating is what has always driven them forward.
The executive, who is also the staple rep of Nintendo in events and issues related to the West, also referred to the Nintendo Switch and its massive success as an example of how doing things the company way makes them work in the first place.
Goichi Suda, aka Suda 51, also talked to the web portal over the weekend and called the hybrid machine a “punk console.” The No More Heroes creator stood by its words, praising Nintendo for its bold innovation in a world where it seems more and more like it’s all about specs and not about the experience.
Reggie Fils-Aimé says they over delivered with the Switch
Addressing the fact that Nintendo fans are one of the most vocal communities out there and on the internet, the president of Nintendo of America said they were not just “sitting in a little ivory tower and not thinking” about what fans want.
However, the Japanese powerhouse has a unique approach to development and marketing. They stick mostly to the old adage that goes “the customer doesn’t know what he wants,” and this, in turn, gives them more freedom to create whatever they feel people would like.
Of course, this process always takes into consideration current industry trends and overall playability and user experience. Whereas Sony and Microsoft strive to deliver the most powerful graphics and visually stunning games, Nintendo is all about new ways in which to play the games you know and love.
“We’re constantly trying to disrupt the industry. We’re constantly asking ourselves what can we do that’s differentiated that the consumer wants but doesn’t know they want,” Fils-Aime told Mashable.
Switch and Classic consoles are a winning formula
Nintendo has ingrained itself deep enough into popular culture to be considered an icon of the industry. Enough time has passed too for some consoles of our youth to be considered classics, and this is exactly the latest element of surprise by the company.
Between the Switch and the 3DS, it is catching the attention of new and devote Nintendo players alike, with innovative controls, award-winning titles, and new experiences you can’t find elsewhere. With its Classic consoles lineup, it is feeding a very niche market with cheap, preloaded experiences that are all the rage.
Reggie Fils-Aime calmed fans down by saying Nintendo was, indeed, listening to their claims and that they can expect them to do the right thing. We will see if this is true in the coming months if the arrival of cross-platform multiplayer, Netflix, and more ever comes.
Source: Mashable