A transcript-cast about Iwata's GDC talk



While the GDC conference was going on in San Jose, Greg Sewart and I were chatting about the news as it came out. Here's a transcript-cast of our punditry from the sidelines:
J: here it comes... Nintendo's GDC speech has begun
Greg Sewart: the world holds its breath
CJ: I can't wait to hear the release date and name. I'm sure it's sooner than anyone expects
Greg: next week
CJ: be realistic.
CJ: soonest would be May, at this point.
Greg: hey, let's not forget the Saturn
CJ: the Saturn was a major f*** up
Greg: doesn't mean it can't happen again
CJ: thing is, I think they could ship it whenever they want. The thing plays GameCube games, and Zelda's gonna be a launch title around the same time.
CJ: it's like shipping a new version of an already-existing product...sorta.
Greg: yeah I can see that reasoning
CJ: the interesting thing is we know jack s*** about what games are coming for the thing outside of Zelda.
CJ: and after Odama they have no GC titles
Greg: true dat
CJ: Nintendo's gotta have at least a few projects in development in Japan. And I bet a handful are ready to go.
CJ: if they'd been working on the Rev with the idea that Sony was launching PS3 in Spring then I'm sure they've got it ready to go.
Greg: yeah, good point
Greg: though honestly, no one ever believed Sony was launching in spring, so I get the feeling Nintendo wouldn't rush themselves to get to market at the same time anyway
Greg: Especially not Nintendo. They go at their own pace no matter what
CJ: no one believed it, but I'm sure they were readying for the possibility
CJ: they said at E3 a year or two ago that they would not be last to the party again
Greg: we'll see
CJ: I think it'll be out before PS3
CJ: and in greater numbers
CJ: new DS Zelda
CJ: Wind Waker graphic style (yay!)
CJ: 2D perspective using 3D graphics.
Greg: noice
Greg: I've always wanted another N64 zelda
Greg: did they say DS Lite for $99?
CJ: I don't think so
Greg: bah!
Greg: I want one, but I ain't paying a premium for it
Greg: what are you watching?
CJ: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=63555
Greg: I hate this, I want to go play a game or something...but now I'm sitting here like a loser
CJ: me too
CJ: Sega and Hudson games will be on the virtual console. Rock on
CJ: Genesis and TG-16 era stuff... man, that's like a retro creamblast come true.
Greg: I'll be excited when it's proven that Sega puts some f***ing good games on there
CJ: Hudson stuff... that's gonna rule
Greg: don't care much about that. but good genesis stuff will rock
Greg: so then I wonder what kind of support Sega will end up giving XBLA
CJ: probably not much.
Greg: You gotta figure the genesis stuff is exclusive
CJ: Sega's still a JPN company. They seem very chummy with Nintendo.
Greg: well most jpn companies are chummy with each other anyawy.
CJ: true, but Sega's more chummy with Ninty than they are with Sony
CJ: I hope Nintendo smacks this industry upside the head.
CJ: no new name for the Revo. Conference over. Megaton averted.
Greg: way to leave the stage without telling us anything!
Greg: BOOOOOO
CJ: well, it is GDC... it's not really a consumer event. They're saving the big guns for E3.
CJ: Nintendo could come out of the gate at E3 the best. I mean, we don't know anything about any Rev games whereas we know about PS3 and 360 stuff.
Greg::yeah yeah
CJ: if they announce some crazy cheap price and a crazy-soon release date... that could be interesting.
Greg: I think they might be able to get hardware numbers back, but I still doubt their focus is going to change the industry
Greg: it's still gonna be an expensive, sequel-fest
CJ: I think Nintendo's games will remain the same price they have on GC
Greg: cause nintendo's philosophy won't do anything for EA, Ubisoft, Activision, Atari, etc
CJ: right but those companies have always only made s*** for Nintendo consoles
Greg: yeah, but you see my point
Greg: they may give the industry some sort of shot in the arm, but it won't amount to much other than them raising their market share
Greg: if anything
CJ: those publishers are interested in multi-console publishing only, more or less. And working within established genres. Nintendo could sell their console with only their games and a handful of Japanese titles and still be successful.
Greg: yes, that's what I'm saying
CJ: well I don't think most US publishers are going to support the Revo
CJ: or if they do, it'll be the usual way - Tony Hawk, Madden... nothing that uses the system's capabilities. Just like what has happened with DS.
CJ: Nintendo's games will lead the way.
Greg: yep
Greg: it's also why I think they'll fall further behind this generation
CJ: I don't think they will. Nintendo's not really in the same race as Sony or Microsoft.
Greg: I don't buy that
Greg: they're all in the same race
Greg: saying they aren't is just a spin on being in third place
Greg: they aren't trying to accomplish the same thing, granted
Greg: but they're competing for the same dollars right now
CJ: Well the console market is gonna be split three ways this gen.
Greg: maybe
CJ: PS3 and 360... I'm guessing you'll either have one or the other of those (generally, for the average consumer)
Greg: but the only way Nintendo won't be third is to beat the others out of the gate on price
CJ: but as a second console, both 360 and PS3 owners could have interest in the Revo.
Greg: you just described this generation, though
CJ: I think the difference, though, is that the Revo will also appeal to non-gamers. The folks who are intimidated by 8-button controllers of the past.
CJ: whereas GameCube didn't appeal to that consumer.
Greg: I don't buy that yet, either. look at the shots of the revo under glass with that nunchaku controller
Greg: that's intimidating
Greg: just the remote thing is ok
CJ: well they're guaranteed #2 in Japan.
Greg: hah
Greg: true
CJ: and if Sony has problems shipping numbers of PS3s...
CJ: which they undoubtedly will
Greg: I loved that phil harrison quote where he said Sony's always been good at meeting demand
Greg: um...tell that to the folks who waited 6 months for a PS2
CJ: yeah
Greg: or stood in line for a PSP
Greg: such bulls***
CJ: well, PSP was easier.
Greg: but still
CJ: yeah, he's full of s***.
CJ: Look at the craziness over the DS Lite in Japan
Greg: yeah
CJ: the Revo is going to do MAD CRAZY well in JPN.
Greg: tis true
CJ: where the "hardcore" game market is really small
Greg: though I wonder how much portability has to do with the DS success in Japan
Greg: cause that's big right now
Greg: see, we should do our own podcast about s*** like this
CJ: haha
Greg: we're interesting!
CJ: we should just put this conversation on our blogs.
Greg: heh
CJ: I mean, Brain Training... that s*** burned it up in Japan.
CJ: Nintendo has a pretty decent shot at being #1 in JPN this gen.
Greg: Yeah, I'll agree to that
Greg: ok, I gots to go
CJ: they kicked the PSP's ass with the DS
Greg: later
CJ: OK. We will talk more later

C

Posted: Fri - March 24, 2006 at 04:46 PM         | |

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