Wow I was really suprised when I read that President Iwata does not believe piracy is the sole cause for poor sales. For awhile now I know Sony blames piracy as being the big reason PSP software fails to sell big numbers. Microsoft has even said similiar things about modified X-Box's.

Then theirs the fact that Nintendo has lost millions in sales if not billions to the R4 and modified Wii's Infact NewSuperMarioBros:Wii was dropped and Nintendo said they lost over 200-million dollars in reveniew. Sounds like piracy is a pretty big issue for Nintendo. But Iwata took the high road, he could easily blame piracy for slumping software sales instead he says"I do not think we should attribute bad software sales solely to piracy"

He goes on to say "It is true there is always the influence of piracy, but it is important for us to increase the number of our consumers who are willing to shell out their money to purchase our products. So, we do not intend to think that slower sales are solely due to piracy."

So what do you think is Iwata right in taking the high road and not blaming piracy (Common scapegoat) or is piracy a much bigger issue for Nintendo then he is letting on?

"it is important for us to increase the number of our consumers who are willing to shell out their money to purchase our products" Ofcourse, but isnt the other problem with low attach rates those very same customers?

Its a really difficult issue to deal with, and hardware sales and bundles are NOT the problem, its trying to keep returning customers.

Oh btw, I think he's being modest about piracy. Its definetly a huge problem and the Wii made it much worse.

Well it's hard to have a opinion about this... First time I played Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was using a backup dvd and after that I bought Metroid Prime Trilogy and now Other M, so I would have bought any Metroid game if haven't played that backup dvd? Probably not, but maybe I'm only an exception.

I wish i had pirated Other M. Im one of those people who HATE the controls, including the simplistic fighting mechanics and missile fps view.

Iwata is just too cool to whine

iwata's awesome really... and i agree it isnt piracy, but a lack of appealing software recently. Luckily thats about to change soon!

Software is key, but you can't exclude piracy. It's a big factor. The wii suffers just as much as the PS2, the former console leader - and that was big.

He didn't really say that.

He said piracy is not the ONLY problem.

Well, it's still better than just saying "It's all 'bout the piracy!", leave it at that and go for a swim in his money bin! If Nintendo wants to fight piracy with better games then that's fine by me!

'Solely' being the key word here. He does recognize piracy affects their business, just that it's not the ONLY reason sales are down.