Speaking at the
Dow Jones Consumer Technology Innovations Conference, Reggie Fils-Aime talked about some upcoming Wii-related topics, including things
other than how great
Wii Fit will be. He discussed Japan's new
TV Program Schedule Channel briefly, but only to mention that there are no plans for a U.S. release of such a service. Then, to answer the question proposed in the CNet article's title "Will the Wii be a set-top box?":
no. Look to something like the Xbox 360, with which you can already purchase TV shows and movies, for something like that. The TV Program Schedule Channel is a neat convenience designed to get people messing with the Wiimote. Reggie mentioned that future channels "... may look like games. They may not look like games."
Other topics included Wii and DS development costs, which are obviously lower in comparison to other systems', meaning that a game can sell fewer copies and still make a profit. For Nintendo, of course, who is aiming at the biggest mass-market audience they can, this doesn't necessarily mean experimentation, but
ridiculous profits. He also went on to talk about shortages, calling them "missed opportunities".
He also talked about how great
Wii Fit will be.
[Via
NeoGAF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-27-2007 @ 4:16PM
shawn said...
missed opportunities? i feel bad for people trying to get a wii and that stinks we wont be getting that channel..it sounds to me like nintendo dont care...they rake in the dough and say screw it
Reply
11-27-2007 @ 4:31PM
Atlantis1982 said...
Well Japan already made deals to allow that company to schedule TV shows for the Wii channel. So thats done for them, but what about the other regions; that one company they are gathering the information for each of the schedules don't do other international countries. For the US, it's pointless with so many consumers having cable boxes.
11-27-2007 @ 4:37PM
Ralph said...
I think that it's worth noting that the TV Listing Channel on the Wii is probably motivated by the fact that a growing number of the population in Japan plays games more often than watch real television shows. So it's likely that it's really meant to get Japanese more interested in watching TV again.
Reply
11-27-2007 @ 4:48PM
flameofdoom666 said...
Wrong. In Japan, they use satellite television, so they do not have a 'guide' button on their remotes. Thats why.
11-27-2007 @ 5:59PM
James said...
Meandering off topic, but why does having satellite TV mean they don't have a "guide" button? When I had Dish network back in college, we had a guide... anybody who controls your STB (Set Top Box) and the incoming signal at the same time can broadcast schedule data and have the box decode it, if they want to.
For that matter, I think there's actually a standard format for broadcasting guide data in sidebands, and they use it more frequently in Europe (or something)... hrm, now I have an urge to actually look into it....
11-27-2007 @ 7:07PM
guttertalk said...
Stuff like a program guide, even if in Japan, annoys me because the point of the Wii is that it is a *game* console, in contrast to the more multiple purpose PS3 and even 360. Also, this means a lack of focus on *game* features . . . like voice chat, a demo channel, etc.
Reply
11-27-2007 @ 7:50PM
Clif said...
Well then again nintendo could just be messing with us. I hate to say this but nintendo and apple are one in the same with how they do PR. Steve Jobs for instance kept talking down the iphone saying it wasn't in apple's best interest to be in the phone business. But then in Jan. of this year apple puts out a cell phone. Nintendo is the same way. I think they have things planned, like the nintendo demo channel for america they are just waiting for the right time to do it. Granted it is annoying to think they if the wii had the demo channel AND a hard-drive support the wii could be really well off in luring hardcore gamers since the system would be able to store things. Reggie just is putting more spin on things. But in 2008 i think finally nintendo will have wiiware and then something will happen with demo channel and hard-drive or sd card. Or maybe we will just keep on hearing how great that balance board is....
Reply
11-27-2007 @ 8:19PM
hvnlysoldr said...
ZOMG! Nintendo's been denying cell phones saying it's not in their interest. DS PHONE CONFIRMED!