By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Soundwave on 23 April 2013
Edit Thread
Jumpin said:
DanneSandin said:
If Iwata can't get some high profile games out this holiday, and is unable to sell Wii U and turn a profit, it's simply time to go. But replacing him would be hard! I'd like to see someone else from inside Nintendo take over, but someone younger (40-ish) whom understands Nintendo.

There is a fallacy here where people seem to think simply having a different CEO will magically increase game production and make Nintendo more popular among consumers. This just imply isn't the case.

Considering Iwata was a highly successul programming lead at Nintendo, and also the most successful producer/manager in the company's history - I don't think replacing him would offer any sort of a benefit to Nintendo. There isn't anyone who knows the company better than he does.

Rather, if Iwata left Nintendo, it would most certainly be bad for the company.

Iwata should be kept, but his powers should be reduced and he should made to understand his limitations and he should focus on the Japanese market and Nintendo's efforts there.

Miyamoto and others should be moved off the board of directors and younger folkes from Nintendo can be promoted. Miyamoto of course should be free to remain at the company to work on his own games, but not in a business/decision making capacity. They are far too old and out of touch to be making such big decisions.

What Nintendo does need is certainly a younger, Western head to take over NOA (and perhaps NOE also) who has autonomy to make decisions for those markets and has input on the broader philosophy at Nintendo. Someone who is also given a budget to greenlight and finance development of games on the Western side of the ocean.

Ideally someone in their 40s, who has good relationships with Western devs/pubs, understands what it takes to make a great game, and also understands MARKETING and design. Howard Lincoln and Minoru Arakawa helped Mr. Yamauchi in the 80s/90s tremendously with marketing, finding developers like Rare (which led to blockbusters like DKC and GoldenEye), securing tie-in's like the Star Wars games for Nintendo platforms (Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, etc.), etc. etc. Retro Studios was Howard Lincoln's idea too, not something that came from Japan.

Nintendo must get back to that, neutering NOA and letting all decision making go through the stiff, old business suits in Japan was a huge, huge mistake which would have become even more blatantly obvious if it wasn't for the temporary boom years of the Wii/DS.