Gamechup

Nintendo is understandably in a lot of pressure after revising the forecast for the Wii U and 3DS

The company’s president Satoru Iwata implied that he may resign if the operating income target for the next fiscal year is not met. The target is supposed to be 100 billion Yen ($1 billion) in operating income.

Iwata apologised at an analysts’ meeting today–as reported by ITmedia (in Japanese)–and said: “We feel greatly accountable for this severe outlook. We plan to actively release our key titles for Nintendo 3DS which could potentially lead the markets this year.”

He also hinted that the portable and home console development groups would be merged. Iwata was very determined in reaching the operating income target and said that “achieving it was his commitment.”

Nintendo shares have fallen slightly after they announced the forecast revision for both the Wii U and 3DS. $1 billion in operating income could be extremely difficult for the company to achieve and requires their current consoles to perform well, along with healthy software sales.

Nintendo is currently taking a loss on each Wii U hardware, and that needs to be quickly fixed by implementing proper cost reduction measures. That and combined with strong mass market titles like Mario and Pokemon, the company has a chance of hitting that 100 billion Yen target for the next fiscal year.

I want this to happen. I can't think how Nintendo could be managed worse right now (there being zero games or consoles from them that I want, and poor earnings and sales)

how obtainable is that goal?

Where does he hint that?

yeah the guy who brought the two best consoles is going to resign because he lost a couple of millions once

he never said he will resign with his own words! this is only wishful thinking until someone quotes him saying he will resign!

It would be sad to see him go, but there are a lot of things they need to fix in their management.

I always saw Iwata as a very smart man, he is very transparent about the failures and rarely sugar-coats. However, certain strategies seen this far have failed and though I saw wisdom in some (letting 3rd parties lead the 3DS launch), it seems like after failing once it was repeated, and some other strategies were not adequate either (having ports or undesired exclusives lead the U launch).

Also, not launching j-games in the US but launching them in Europe is a big mistake. The US market is also a hobbyist market and that needs to be much more aggressively sought after by Nintendo...

100% sure that the same quarterly results for Sony would be treated as a landslide victory. It's so hypocritical, Sony doesn't even reveal Vita sales and cuts forecasts by 6 million across two quarters and will cut it even more but somehow their investors just don't give a shit.

Pretty much, because it isn't Nintendo. At least Iwata is honest, transparent and apologises. Sony just try to hide their numbers and hopes no-one notices.

Regardless, their goal seems pretty manageable with all the SW coming out later this year, and I wouldn't expect Iwata to resign anyway.

Because Sony's numbers have been dog shit for several years, while Nintendo is coming off the first yearly loss in ages. That Sony isn't getting the same flak is only because people are used to them doing badly at this point. And I say that as a longtime Sony customer.

Also, I see nothing in that article in which he even implies as much.

Iwata should stay.

Reggie should go.