GamePro interviews Nintendo President Reggie-Fils Aime about his thoughts on Wii post launch, meeting expectations, and looking forward. Here’s a nice little snippet I enjoyed:
“GP: When was “the moment” that you knew the Wii was going to live up to everything — and more — Nintendo had hoped?
Fils-Aime: I think most people began to understand on the show floor at E3 last year, waiting in those lines, or just looking at them, anxious to see what the Wii fuss was all about. But for me personally, it really “clicked” a couple days before, when we were rehearsing for our media briefing. You see, I had played an early version several months before, but when Mr. Iwata, Mr. Miyamoto, George [Harrison, VP of NoA] and I got up there on stage and fired up that game of Wii Tennis…well, not only was I having a blast, but I could see the faces of the handful of crew looking on from the audience. They were psyched. I was psyched! That was the moment I suspected we were in for even more than we expected.”
When did Wii click for you (if ever)?
Right when I saw the first preview of the first commercial with the Wii remote… remember? The one that didn't show any actual games, just the people moving the remote with sound effects, but not showing the TV screen?That's when I thought "Of course! These developers at Nintendo nailed it!!"Funny that all the complaints Nintendo has had about Wii have nothing to do with what was shown in that commercial: the lack of online play, the choice of VC titles, the graphics… none of that was hinted at by what excited us about this console when it was first announced. As far as that first moment of "Aha! I want THAT!" is concerned, Wii did not let me down at all.
When the Wii Remote materialized from the white liquid .. same video as I-man mentioned. Total geek-boner time.
I think for me it was some demo video showing the Wiimote as a sword a steering wheel, and some other stuff.
first time I played it. I actually got the Nintendo 8-bit feeling again. The feeling you´re doing something brand new and so addictive.. it´s hard to stop.
I was excited, of course, back at E3 when the had their conference. I downloaded trailers, commercials, and kept up to date. I was really interested.But when Nintendo lauched their "Wii would like to play." set of commercials, it completely clicked for me. Suddenly, everything fit together: their hardware, their market strategy, even the controversial name change. It was literally a moment of epiphany.
Back at E3 2005, I was hardly enthused. In fact, the Revolution controller looked gimmicky and like a sure fire failure to me. It just seemed wrong to try and change the formula so drastically.Then I got the email from Nintendo.com that said Revolution's new name, Wii, had been revealed. I was…confused, but intrigued. I had to know more about it at this point! The name, that is. So I go and check it out, and since I knew E3 was only about a week after that announcement (I think, I dont remember exactly), I figured I'd look on vigorously.Then they showed a lineup that included Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and Super Smash Bros. The Zelda footage had me sold. Everything else was paying tax. I knew then that I had to have this machine.And I do. And I love it. ^_^
Reggie needs a hair cut. I'd still dance for him though.
Wii clicked for me way before the E3 tennis game, but oh that tennis game was great. I knew something was up way back when Yamauchi was talking about the next generation console. -I was anxious at E3 2004 when along with the new Nintendo DS Reggie was talking about the work already underway on a new console that will change and revolutionize the industry. -It didn't click but started to when Iwata San held up the black Revolution at E3 2005.-At TGS …when we got a first glimpse of the remote I knew then that things were going to be different and unexpected then the CLICK happened. -I had a double click in April when the Wii name was reviled, shocked, upset, and then happy. Then E3 2006 simple blew me away, the console, the remote, the attachments, the lines, the hype, that video of the doors opening and everyone rushing in to play Wii….it was a hype that infused Wii in my blood, I think if you look at the actual tissue of my brain…there is a burnt black Nintendo logo on there somewhere..Nintendo has branded me through the years of playing. I'm a Nintendofanboy not a sports-oholic….Thanks Nintendo.